2 FRINGILLID2G. 



Loxia curvirostra, Common Crossbill, FLEM. Brit. An. p. 76. 



SELBY, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 329. 



JENYNS, Brit. Vert. p. 141. 



GOULD, Birds of Europe. 



Bec-croise commun, TEMM. Man. d'Ornith. vol. i. p. 328, 



LOXIA. Generic Characters. Beak rather long, thick at the base, much 

 compressed, strong, very convex, the mandibles crossing each other at the 

 points. Nostrils round, basal, lateral, defended by incumbent setaceous 

 feathers. Wings pointed ; the first quill-feather the longest. Tarsus very 

 short ; toes and claws strong ; hinder toe longer than the tarsus ; claws 

 curved and sharp. Tail short, forked. 



THE history of the Common Crossbill, in this country, at 

 least, was involved in some obscurity ; and though these 

 birds were more abundant here during the greater part of 

 1836, 1837, and 1838, than has been known for some years 

 before, but few instances have occurred in which the eggs 

 or nestlings were taken. These birds are most frequently 

 seen in flocks between the latter part of the month of June 

 and the beginning of February; but Mr. Hoy has watched 

 them closely in Suffolk, and satisfied himself that the same 

 birds remained till May ; and Mr. Joseph Clarke, of Saffron 

 Walden, who has also paid great attention to this species, 

 has recorded his having seen them during every successive 

 month of one entire year in the plantations about Saffron 

 Walden, yet he could never learn that they then made any 

 attempt to breed. Mr. Bullock long ago suspected that 

 the Crossbill bred in this country, having received young 

 birds from the vicinity of Bath early in July. Large flocks 

 were observed in this country in 1821. Mr. Selby in the 

 month of June of that year obtained many, the females of 

 which showed plainly, from the denuded state of their 

 breasts, that they had lately been engaged in incubation. 

 White of Selborne obtained Crossbills there in summer, 

 and found that the females were in the same state, as to 

 plumage, as those examined by Mr. Selby. Mr. Knapp 

 has observed the same appearance in females killed early in 



