90 THE CROSSBILL. 



disposed to think that not one hird resembled another : but all 

 this variety depends on the different stages in moulting, which 

 so very much affects the colours of the plumage. 



Thus, in old male birds the forehead, cheeks, and eyebrows 

 are spotted with grey, greenish yellow, and white. Wherever 

 green and yellow are prevalent, the dark grey shows through, 

 and has the appearance of spots on those parts, particularly on 

 the back, for the tips alone are green and yellow. 



The result of all this is, that, when grey or speckled crossbills 

 are spoken of, they are the young ones ; when red, they have 

 passed their first moulting ; when crimson, they are near their 

 second ; and when spotted, red and yellow, they are two years 

 old, and in full feather. To judge with exactness, these birds 

 ought to be seen at the time of laying, but neither this nor the 

 moulting has any fixed season; and this circumstance suffi- 

 ciently explains the great variety and difference of colour which 

 are found among this species. 



These details also show that the crossbill is subject to nearly 

 the same changes of colour as the linnet, and that the red colour 

 which it bears for the first year is what peculiarly distinguishes 

 it from other birds. One thing, which is rather remarkable, 

 is, that the young ones reared in the house never take the red 

 colour, but remain grey for the second year, or change directly 

 into greenish yellow. 



There are two kinds of crossbills,^the greater and lesser ; but 

 the difference is not so great as some pretend, and nature is 

 not more invariable in the size of birds than it is in that 

 of men *. 



HABITATION. When wild, the crossbill not only inhabits Europe, but 

 also all the north of Asia and America, everywhere frequenting forests of 

 pines and firs, where these trees, which are loaded with cones, furnish abun- 

 dance of food. 



In the house it may be let range at will, but a branch of fir, or any other 

 tree, must be put near it, on which it can perch or sleep. If it be kept in 

 a cage it must be made of wire ; for, being so much disposed to peck and 

 nibble, a wicker cage would soon be reduced to chips. 



FOOD. In its wild state the pine seed is its favourite food ; the shape of 

 its beak is peculiarly adapted for procuring these seeds, by separating the 

 scales of the cones ; it also gathers from the ground those which have fallen, 

 and it does not neglect those of the fir, and even of the alder. When these 



fail it is contented with the bads of the same trees. 



* The parrot crossbill is a very different species, but is rare. TRANSLATOR. 



