132 CROSSBEAK, DUCK. 



THE CROSSBEAK. 



The birds of this genus have a strong thick beak, by 

 means of which they break the hardest stone fruit, to feed 

 upon their contents. They are shy and solitary, and but 

 few of them sing. Some are quite small, others eight or 

 nine inches in length. The colours of many species are 

 brilliant; red is prevalent amongst them. The genus 

 includes some well known birds. The Bengal Crossbeak 

 is very common in Hindostan ; it is about the size of a 

 sparrow. The prevalent colour is grey, the top of the 

 head is bright yellow, the under parts whitish. It is very 

 docile and faithful, never deserting the place in which its 

 young are hatched. It is easily taught to purchase on the 

 hand of its master ; its nest is usually built on some high 

 tree, overhanging some rivulet : it is made of grass, inter- 

 woven like cloth, into the shape of a bottle, and so"firmly 

 suspended from the branch as to rock with the wind. 

 This nest is usually divided into chambers, and furnished 

 sometimes with fire-flies, which it sticks to the sides with 

 pieces of cow dung. 



THE DUCK. 



This valuable domestic owes its origin to the Mallard, 

 (the common Wild Duck) and has long been reclaimed from 

 a state of nature. Many of them appear in nearly the same 

 plumage as the Wild ones : others vary greatly from them, 

 as well as from each other, and may be said to be marked 

 with almost all colours ; but all the males (Drakes) still 

 retain the unvarying mark of their wild original in the 

 curled feathers of the tail. Long domestication has, how- 

 ever, deprived the Tame Duck of that keen, quick, and 

 sprightly look and shape which distinguishes the Mallard, 

 and substituted a more dull and less elegant form and 

 appearance in their stead. 



