70 WESTBOTHLAND. 



though bald and grey-bearded Charon, in 

 an old grey coat, just such as Rudbeck 

 describes. 



I waited on Baron Grundell, Governor 

 of the province, who is a pattern of mild- 

 ness, and he received me in the kindest 

 manner. He showed me several curiosities, 

 and gave me much interesting informa- 

 tion. 



He had two Crossbills ( Lo^ria ciirvirostra) 

 in a cage, which fed on the cones of the 

 spruce fir (Pinus Abies) with great dex- 

 terity. They took up a cone with their 

 beak, and, holding it fast with one foot, 

 picked out the seeds by means of their 

 forked mandibles, of which the upper is 

 very thick, ending in an oblong curved 

 very sharp point. The lower is shorter, 

 and cuts obliquely, sometimes to the right, 

 sometimes to the left. Both these were 

 male birds ; their feathers of a tawny red, 

 except the wings and forked tail, which 

 were black. 



From the window I perceived in an ad- 



