SCANSORES. 407 



veloped. As the Crossbill is rather a voracious bird, the havoc which 

 it will make in an orchard may be imagined. 



This bird is also very fond of the seeds of cone-bearing trees, 

 and haunts the pine-forests in great numbers. While engaged in eat- 

 ing it breaks the cones from branches, and, holding them firmly iu 

 its feet after the fashion of the parrots, inserts its beak below 

 the scales, wrenches them away, and with its tongue scoops out 

 the seed. 



The Crossbill is not common in this country, although, when it does 

 make its appearance, it generally comes over in flocks. Usually it con- 

 sorts in little assemblies consisting of the parents and their young, but 

 it has often been known to associate in considerable numbers. It is a 

 very shy bird, and has a peculiar knack of concealing itself at a mo- 

 ment's notice, pressing itself closely upon the branches at the least 

 alarm, and remaining without a movement or a sound to indicate its 

 position until the danger has departed. 



In Sweden and Norway the Crossbill is a very common bird, and the 

 north of Europe seems to be its proper breeding-place. 



The nests are always placed in rather close proximity, so that if one 

 nest is found, others are sure to be at no great distance. The nest is 

 made of little fir-twigs, mosses, and wool, and is of a rather loose texture. 

 It is always found upon the part of the branch that is nearest the stem. 

 The fir is the tree that is almost always, if not invariably, employed by 

 this bird as its nesting-place. The eggs are generally three, but some- 

 times four, in number, and are something like those of the greenfinch, 

 but rather larger. 



SCANSORES, OH CLIMBING BIRDS. 



A large group of birds is arranged by naturalists under the title of 

 Scansores, or " climbing birds," and may be recognized by the struc- 

 ture of the feet. Two toes are directed forward and the other two 

 backward, so that the bird is able to take a very powerful hold of the 

 substance on which it is sitting; and this arrangement enables some 

 species, as the woodpeckers, to run nimbly up tree-trunks and to hold 

 themselves tightly on the bark while they hammer away with their 

 beaks, and other species, of which the parrots are familiar examples, 

 to clasp the bough as with a hand. 



There are many strange and wonderful forms among the feathered 

 tribes, but there are, perhaps, none which more astonish the beholder 

 who sees them for the first time than the group of birds known by the 

 name of Hornbills. 



They are all distinguished by a very large beak, to which is added a 

 singular helnut-like appendage, equalling the beak itself in some species. 



