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CROSSBILL. 



COMMON CROSSBILL. EUROPEAN CROSSBILL. SHEL-APPLE. 

 Loxia curvirostra, LINNJSUS. LA.THAM. 



Loxia. Loxos Curved oblique. Curvirostra. Curvus 



Curved. Rostra The beaks of birds. 



IT has been abundantly and conclusively demonstrated that 

 the curious beak of the Crossbill, so far from being, as 

 described by Buffon, 'an error and defect in nature, and a 

 useless deformity,' is most peculiarly and admirably adapted 

 to the mode of life for which it was created. 



On the European continent these singular birds are met 

 with in Russia, Siberia, Denmark, Norway, Lapland, Sweden, 

 Bavaria, Poland, Germany, Silesia, Bohemia, Prussia, Holland, 

 France, Switzerland, Italy, and Spain. In Asia also, even 

 to remote Japan, and in North America in various parts. 



In every or almost every county of England they have at 

 one time or other been met with. In Cornwall, however, 

 they are very rare. One was shot in the Orchard, Grove 

 Hill, Woodlane; and three at Carclevv, in April, 1850. 



In the latter end of the year 1821 and the beginning of 

 1822, Crossbills were very numerous in many parts of the 

 country; so they were also in 1828, 1829, 1833, 1834, 1837, 

 1838, 1839, as likewise in 1806, 1791, and in 1593, of which 

 the following account is given in an old manuscript, quoted 

 by Mr. Yarrell: 'That the yeere 1593 was a greate and 

 exceeding yeere of apples; and there were greate plenty of 

 strang birds, that shewed themselves at the time the apples 

 were full rype, who fedde uppon the kernells onely of those 

 apples, and haveinge a bill with one beake wrythinge over 

 the other, which would presently bore a greate hole in the 



