THE CROSS-BILLS. 325 



found still higher up. These birds are somewhat wandering 

 in their habits ; and in the winter especially roam far and 

 wide about the country in very considerable flocks. Few or 

 none of them, however, migrate. 



The parrot cross-bill subsists on the seeds of more than 

 one kind of tree ; as also on the berries of the mountain-ash 

 and the like ; chiefly, however, on the seeds of the pine ; and 

 altogether, according to Ekstrom, who has paid much atten- 

 tion to its habits, on those of the spruce-pine (Abies excelsa, 

 De Cand.). 



When feeding, it first lays hold of the cone with its claws, 

 bites off the stalk close to the twig, and taking the cone in 

 its bill, carries it along the bough towards the trunk of the 

 tree; where it again seizes hold of it with its claws, and 

 cleverly extracts the seed. This is its usual practice. Some- 

 times, although very seldom, it perches on, or attaches itself 

 to the cone whilst still fast to the twig ; or should the cone 

 happen to fall to the ground, it completes its meal there. 

 Quantities of seed naturally fall whilst the birds are thus 

 dissecting the cones, and one therefore often sees a large 

 portion of the flock descend to the ground and pick it up'. 

 When the bird feeds on the seed of the alder, it in the first 

 instance always grasps the twig with its claws before it 

 commences plucking out the seed. 



The parrot cross-bill, as with others of the family, would 

 seem to be amongst the least shy of the feathered tribe. 

 Some, however, attribute this tameness to its extreme vora- 

 city. Be this as it may ; when a flock of these birds are 

 feeding in a pine-tree in the manner described, they usually 

 sit perfectly still, even if one passes directly under the tree ; 

 and were it not for the falling cones, one would not be aware 



