THE CROSSBILL. 39 



the upper branches of coniferous trees, of thin pine or fir 

 twigs, on which is placed a thick layer of earth moss, lined 

 within with the finest coral moss. The female lays three 

 to five greyish- white eggs, having at the thick end a circle 

 of reddish-brown stripes and spots. Like all Grosbeaks, 

 they feed their young with food disgorged from theii own 

 crops. " 



Their food consists chiefly of fir seeds, which the 

 peculiar formation of the beak assists the bird greatly in 

 extracting from the fir-cones ; they will, however, feed 

 upon the ground, as well as upon the branches of the trees. 

 They also feed upon the seeds of the pine and alder, and 

 the buds and flowers of the sumach. They are very fond, 

 too, of the seeds of crab-apples, in extracting which their 

 beaks, forming saws, are put to very great use. 



Their general abode is necessarily amidst the forests of 

 firs and pines that clothe the hills and mountains, but that 

 only when the cones are abundant. 



About October (but they are just as erratic in their 

 migration as in other respects) they begin to arrive in 

 England from the Continent ; their numbers vary greatly, 

 sometimes many birds arriving, and again, even in the suc- 

 ceeding year, but few of them grace this island with their 

 presence. Their return to the Continent is quite as un- 

 certain, as small parties depart at different periods. 



The song of the Crossbill is harsh, and has but little 

 melody ; but the call whilst flying from tree to tree may be 

 represented by " soc-soc-soc." Its general call is, how- 

 ever, " chip-chip-chip." 



Their flight is close and rapid, and they generally fly 

 together — sometimes in small parties, but at others in 

 larger numbers. 



