BIRDS OF THE WOODS 55 



usual colouring. Bill dark brown, having the mandibles 

 crossed (hence name). Legs dark brown. Length 6 

 in. Female, more or less streaked, and brownish red 

 colouring of the male replaced by greenish yellow. 

 Young, more of a greyish green and more streaked below. 



Language. Song, a low warble. Call-note, " gip- 

 gip " or " chip-chip." Shrill and clear, usually uttered 

 in flight. 



Habits. Gregarious. When climbing about the 

 branches of a fir it is distinctly parrot-like in its actions, 

 helping itself along with its beak. Flight strong and 

 undulating. Tame and easily approached. 



Food. Caterpillars in summer, but chiefly berries, and 

 especially seeds of the fir and pine, extracted from cone 

 with scissor-like bill. 



Nest. February or March. Probably one brood only. 



Site. At varying altitudes, in a fork or on lateral 

 branch of a fir-tree. 



Materials. Fir twigs, grass, and lichen, lined with 

 fine grass, moss, wool, and feathers. 



Eggs. Four to five. Greyish white, spotted and 

 speckled rather sparingly with dark reddish brown and 

 paler underlying markings. 



LITTLE OWL (Athene noctua). 



Really a visitor, but a good many have been brought 

 from abroad and turned loose, and it has been found 

 breeding in several counties. 



Plumage. Upper parts brown, with triangular white 

 markings on head, and spotted with white on nape and 

 wings. Tail marked with four white bands. Facial 

 disc ill-developed and greyish ; under parts white, 

 streaked with brown. Bill yellow. Legs covered with 

 yellowish white hair -like feathers. Toes covered with 

 bristles. Length 9 in. Female, larger and rather paler. 

 Nestling first covered with greyish down ; later like 

 adults, but more rufous. 



