LOXIA. BIRDS. 241 



from which the rain proceeds ; the cavity is separated in the middle by a partition 

 of half its height, up which the bird mounts perpendicularly, and then, descending 

 on the other side, forms its nest in the further chamber. 



P. pensilis, Tern. (Loxia, Lin.) Pensile Weaver. Plumage green 

 above, gray beneath ; vent rufous,, with the head and lower parts 

 of the neck yellow ; quills and tail-feathers black. 5 inches long. 

 Inhabits Madagascar Shaw, ix. 275. 



P. socius, Tern. (Loxia, Lath.) Sociable Weaver. Reddish brown 

 above., yellowish beneath ; capistrum black ; tail short. 5J inches 

 long. Inhabits Cape of Good Hope. Shaw, ix. 303. 



These birds lire in large societies, constructing their numerous connected nests 

 on the branches of smooth barked trees, as a defence against serpents and monkeys. 



P. Malimbicus, Tern. ( Tanagra, Lath.) Plumage blue-black, with 

 the crest, chin, and throat scarlet. 6 inches long. Inhabits Africa. 

 Shan, Nat. Mis. pi. 581. 



P. aurifrons, Tern. Plumage yellow-green, with the back and sca- 

 pulars spotted with brown; forehead and cheeks of the male golden 

 yellow ; of the female ashy-yellow ; body beneath citron yellow. 

 6 inches long. Inhabits Southern Africa Tern. PL Cot. 175, 176. 



Gen. 6. LOXIA, Briss. Crucirostra, Cuv. 

 Bill rather long, strong, much compressed, the two mandibles 

 equally convex and crossing each other at the points when at 

 rest ; nostrils round, basal, and lateral, concealed by reflected 

 bristly feathers; the anterior toes entirely divided; wings with 

 the first quill-feather longest ; tail forked. 



These birds inhabit the northern parts of Europe and America, and feed on the 

 seeds of trees and alpine plants. Their singular formed bill enables them to pick out 

 the seeds from the cones of the pine and fir. Their period of reproduction is un- 

 usual, being in the winter months ; and they emigrate in summer to the Arctic regions. 

 Their change of plumage is one of the most singular phenomena in their history. 

 The bulfinches and grosbeaks, which were included under this generic title by the 

 older naturalists, have been properly classed under another name. 



L. pytiopsittacus, Bechst. Greater Cross-bill. Bill very strong, much 

 bent, broad at its base, the crossing point of the lower mandible 

 not surpassing the upper margin of the bill ; plumage olive-ash- 

 coloured; cheeks, throat, and sides of the neck gray; rump, breast, 

 and belly greenish -yellow; wings and tail brownish-black. 7 in- 

 ches long. Inhabits N. Europe. Selby, lllust. pi. 53**, fig. 1. 



L. curvirostra. Lin. Cross-bill. Bill long, slightly curved, broad 

 at the base, and the crossed point of the lower mandible project- 

 ing beyond the upper edge of the bill ; body of a variable red ; 

 quills and tail-feathers brown; tail forked. The red of the male 

 is varied with brown and green, and the female is olive-green, 

 mixed with brown; but both sexes appear very different at differ- 

 ent times of the year, and at different ages, 6 inches long. In- 

 habits Northern Europe. B. Selby, lllust. pi. 53. 



Gen. 7. PSITTIROSTKA, Tern. Loxia, Lath. 



Bill short, much hooked, gibbous at its base ; upper mandible 

 VOL. i. a 



