326 THE CROSS-BILLS. 



of their presence. In the winter time, and when feeding on 

 the berries of the mountain-ash and other trees, this bird, in 

 like manner with the pine bullfinch, is often captured by 

 means of a noose placed over its neck. 



The parrot cross-bill would not seem to be guided by any 

 regular rule as to the period of breeding for one finds its 

 nest as well at the turn of winter, as at, or near to, Mid- 

 summer ; more generally, however, it pairs in February, and 

 the young, for the most part, are fledged in April. Pairing 

 generally takes place whilst the birds are occupied in feeding, 

 and mostly in the morning and in clear weather. One sees 

 as well red as yellow males at this time. The nest, which' 

 is placed on two smaller boughs of a young spruce pine-tree, or 

 at the end of a leafy bough, and often a considerable height 

 from the ground, is circular, and composed of small twigs of 

 the spruce-pine. It is of large dimensions, the diameter being 

 two feet or more. The entrance is round, but so small, 

 that the bird must necessarily squeeze itself into it. The 

 interior, however, is of the -size of one's fist. Such are the 

 nests prepared for the winter. Those intended for the 

 Summer are much less in size, more open, and of a lighter 

 construction. This bird, therefore, builds its nest differently, 

 according to the season of the year and the temperature. 



The female lays from three to four eggs, of a somewhat 

 small size, and of a dirty-white colour, thickly marked with 

 brown spots. When the young leave the nest, they follow 

 the mother, who feeds them ; but at this . period the male 

 deserts the family. One never sees him in company with a 

 female that has newly-fledged young. When these accom- 

 pany the mother, they keep up a terrible noise, screech most 

 unmercifully, and flutter with their wings. When feeding 



