f~l60 



Crre&trg of Natural 



as a mere lusits naturae by Button ; but, not- 

 withstanding the apparently awkward and 

 useless shape, it is found to be most admira- 

 ; bly adapted to their particular habits. The 

 ! two mandibles, instead of lying in a straight 

 direction, cross each other in a similar man- 

 ner to a pair of scissors, and which enables 

 them to obtain their food with the greatest 

 ! facility. They live mostly on the seeds of 

 I the cones of the fir ; in procuring which they 

 j exhibit wonderful instinct, as they fix them- 

 j selves across the cone, then bring the points 

 : of their beak immediately over each other, 

 and insinuate them between the scales,when 

 forcing them laterally, the scales open ; and 

 then again bringing the points in contact, 

 | they pick out the seed with the utmost ease. 

 | The male of the COMMON CROSSBILL 

 ! (Loxia ciirvirostra) varies from a beautiful 

 red to orange colour on the head, neck, 

 ' breast, back, and rump ; the wing-coverts 

 rufous brown ; quills and tail dusky ; tail 

 forked ; legs short ; claws strong. The fe- 

 male in general is of a dull olive-green on 

 those parts that are red in the male ; wings 

 . and tail similar to the male, but not so dark. 

 J This species inhabits Sweden, Germany, and 

 many other parts of Europe, where it breeds 

 and migrates occasionally in vast flocks 

 into the other parts : it is never known 

 to breed in this country, but sometimes 

 appears in immense numbers, fixing on 

 those spots that abound with firs, for the 

 sake of the seeds, which are its_ natural food. 

 It is said to do a deal of mischief to orchards 

 ' by splitting the apples to get at the seeds ; 

 and it is so intent when feeding on the cones 

 of the firs (which it holds in its claws like 

 a parrot), that it may be taken without diffi- 

 culty. In North A'merica and Greenland 

 this bird is very common, and is said to build 

 its nest in the highest parts of the firs, 

 making use of the resinous matter that ex- 

 udes from them for fixing it to the trees. 

 : It is sometimes called the German Parrot. 

 ! Another species, called UieWniTE-wiNGED 

 CROSSBILL (Loxia leucoptcra), which is some- 

 what less than a goldfinch, is common in 

 North America. It is said to make its ap- 

 pearance in March, and to build its nest of 

 mud and feathers in May, about half-way 

 up a pine-tree, laying five white eggs speckled 

 with yellow : in November both the old and 

 young disappear, and are supposed to retire 

 farther inland. 



I CROTAJLUS. [See RATTLESNAKE.] 

 I CROTOPHAGA, or ANI. A genus of 

 . Scansorial birds found in the New World. 

 i The Crotophaga Americana, or Keel-bill, is 

 ' principally an inhabitant of the hotter re- 

 gions of South America, particularly Brazil, 

 ' though it is met with also in North America, 

 as well as in several of the West India is- 

 lands. The general colour of these birds is 

 j black,with more or less of metallic reflections ; 

 ! and they have a short, arched bill, very much 

 j compressed. They live in flocks ; the skirts of 

 I woods and the borders of flooded savannahs 

 [ being their favourite haunts ; and their food 

 chiefly consisting of small lizards, insects 

 j and seeds. Their wings are short, and their 

 flight feeble ; but they are so bold and fear- 



less as scarcely to be alarmed at the sound 

 of fire-arms ; and as they are not reckoned 

 among edible birds, on account of the rank- 



ness of their flesh, they may be said to enjoy 

 a kind of privileged security. Many pairs 

 are said to use the same nest, which is built 

 on the branches of trees, ana of a large size ; 

 there they lay and hatch un concert. They 

 are observed to breed several times in a 

 year, and their eggs are of a bluish-green 

 colour. 



CROW. (Corvus.) Under the term COR- 

 vin. will be found a brief account of the 

 general characteristics of this gregarious and 

 predatory genus of birds, of which the Raven 

 may be considered the head. We are now 

 about to speak of the COMMON or CARIUON 

 CROW (Corvus corone), which in form, co- 

 lour, and appetites, so much resembles it. 



The Carrion Crow is similar to the Raven 

 in its habits, colour, and external appear- 

 ance : length about eighteen inches ; breadth 

 three feet. The glossy feathers of the upper 

 plumage have a burnished look, excepting 

 on their edges, which are dull, and form a 

 border to each. They live mostly in woods; 

 build their nests in trees ; and lay five or 

 six eggs. They feed on putrid flesh, and 

 garbage of all sorts ; likewise on eggs, shell- 

 fish, worms, and insects. 



England is said to produce more birds of 

 this kind than any other country of Europe. 

 In the reign of Henry VIII. they were so 

 numerous, and deemed so injurious to the 

 farmer, that they were regarded as an evil 

 worthy of parliamentary redress ; and an 

 act was accordingly passed for their destruc- 

 tion, in which rooks and choughs were in- 

 cluded. Every hamlet was to provide crow- 

 nets for ten years : and, during that space, 

 the inhabitants were obliged to assemble at 

 certain times, in order to project the most 

 efiectual methods for extirpating them. 



The habits of this bird are so amusingly 

 pourtrayed by Mr. Waterton, that we deem 

 it no trespass upon the patience of our rea- 

 ders to quote his observations at considerable 

 length. " This warrior bird," says he, " is 

 always held up to public execration. The 

 very word carrion, attached to his name, 



