THE CROSS-BILL. 307 



Habits Curious operations. 



compass, they insinuate it between the scales, 

 and distending the two mandibles to their usual 

 position sideways, force the scales open; and 

 then again bringing the points into contact, pick 

 out the seed, in the same manner as if their bills 

 had the form of those of other birds. While in 

 this act, they are so perfectly intent on their bu- 

 siness, as to suffer themselves to be taken by 

 means of a horse-hair noose fixed to a long fish- 

 ing rod. They are discovered by the twittering 

 noise they make while feeding. 



The degree of lateral force which they are able 

 to exert, is very surprising: and they are at times 

 fond of exercising it for mere amusement; which, 

 renders them in a tame state, not a little mis- 

 chievous. Doctor Townson, while at Gottingen, 

 kept several cross-bills> which, by kind treatment, 

 soon becoming tame, he let loose about his study. 

 They would often come to his table while he was 

 writing, and carry off" his pencils, little chip boxes 

 in which he occasionally kept insects, and other 

 similar objects, and tear them to pieces almost 

 instantaneously. Their mode of operation was 

 first to peck a little hole, to insert into this their 

 bill, and thpn split or tear the object by the la- 

 teral force. When he gave them, as he often 

 did, almonds in their shells, they got at the ker- 

 nel in the same manner ; first pecking a hole, 

 and then enlarging this by wrenching off the 

 pieces. 



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