346 INSESSORES. 



they are confined to localities in which these cones can be ob- 

 tained, such as the Hartz, or great pine forests of Germany. 

 They first fix themselves across the cone, then bring the points 

 of the mandibles from their crossed position to be immediately 

 over each other. In this reduced compass, they insert their beaks, 

 and then opening them, not in the usual manner, but by drawing 

 the lower mandible sidewise, they force open the scales. In 

 this process, they are aided by the beautiful and peculiar adap- 

 tation of the tongue, an additional portion, partly osseous, with a 

 horny covering being articulated to the front end of the bone of 

 the tongue, (os hyoides.) Underneath this grooved appendage is 

 another small muscle which is attached at one end to the bone of 

 the tongue ; at the other, it is joined to the movable piece, and 

 by its erection bends the point downwards and backwards; whilst, 

 therefore, the points of the beak press the shell from the body of the 

 cone, the tongue, brought forward by its own muscle, is enabled, 

 by additional ones, to direct and insert its cutting scoop beneath 

 the seed, and the food thus dislodged is transferred to the mouth. 



While these birds are at work on the fircones, they send forth 

 a gentle twitter, and may be seen climbing among the branches 

 like parrots ; but they are also said to have a pleasant song, 

 poured forth only in the winter months, or at the season of incu- 

 bation. The Cross-bills are subject to considerable changes of 

 color. 



The male of the COMMON CROSS-BILL, Loxia curviroslra. (Lat. 

 curve-beaked.) varies from a beautiful red to an orange color on 

 the head, neck, breast and back ; the female is generally of a 

 dull olive green on those parts which are red in the male. It is 

 sometimes called the German Parrot, and on account of its sweet 

 and well tasted flesh, is in special request in the bird-market of 

 Vienna, (Austria,) for the purposes of the table. This bird is 

 five and three-fourths inches long. It is a regular inhabitant of 

 all our pine forests (situated north of 40o N. Lat.,) from the be- 

 ginning of September to the middle of April, building its nest on 

 the highest part of the fir trees, and making use of the resinous 

 matter which exudes from them for fixing it to the trees. 



The AMERICAN CROSS-BILL, L. Americana, is of a red color, 

 with brownish tail and wings, from six and one-half to seven 

 inches in length ; feeds on the cones of the hemlock, and on 

 apples and other fruits, which the bird breaks open for its seeds. 

 Bonaparte and other naturalists consider this species as distinct 

 from the European Cross-bill. It is a northern-bird, but breeds 

 as far south as Pennsylvania. 



Another species is the WHITE WINGED CROSS-BILL, L. leucop- 



