THE CROSSBILL. 



Loxia curvirostra, LINN^B^ ; Le Beccroise, BUFFON ; Der Kreuzschuabel, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THE length of this bird is nearly seven inches, of which the 

 tail measures two and a quarter. The beak, which is one inch 

 in length, and very thick, has its two mandibles curving in 

 opposite directions, and crossing each other at the points, 

 whence the name. It is no fixed rule for the upper mandible 

 to cross to the right or left, but its direction appears to be ac- 

 quired when young. The shanks, which are eight lines high, 

 and the beak, are brown ; the iris is nut-coloured. 



The change of colour, which some assert this bird is subject 

 to three times a year, simply occurs as follows : 



The young male, which is at first of a greyish brown, with 

 a little yellow, becomes after moulting entirely red, darker on 

 the upper part of the body than on the lower, the quill and tail 

 feathers excepted, which are blackish. This generally happens 

 in April or May. At the second moulting this red colour be- 

 comes a greenish yellow, which is permanent; so that when 

 red they may be known to be the young male birds, and when 

 yellow the old ones. 



The females are in general grey, with a little green on the 

 head, breast, and rump, or irregularly speckled with those two 

 colours. 



From observations which have been made with great care 

 and exactness, and which any one can repeat who wishes, it 

 appears proved that an old male bird never changes its colour. 

 In order to be exact as to these facts, it is necessary to observe 

 the bird from the time of its leaving the nest ; for, if one were 

 to judge from those taken in a snare, one would certainly be 



