APPENDIX. 



BILL OF CROSSBILL, p. 124. 



This bird so seldom breeds in this country, that oppor- 

 tunities for examination are very rare, and in reference to the 

 crossing of the mandibles, since the text was written I have 

 met with a notice by Mr. Blyth, of a nest of the common 

 species that was taken in the vicinity of Sevenoaks. The 

 young birds, four in number, were half fledged when found, 

 and were uniformly brown in colour; but the most noticeable 

 peculiarity was that the mandibles of each were as much 

 crossed as those of the adults. This, therefore, confirms the 

 opinion I have expressed that this is their normal form. The 

 straight mandibles of the young one mentioned by Yarrell 

 must be considered an exception, and indeed were literally 

 deformed. 



NUTHATCH, p. 150. 



I have lately noticed a peculiarity in the mode in which 

 the Nuthatch gives the heavy blows necessary to penetrate the 

 thick-shelled nuts. The bill is particularly thick and strong 

 for so small a bird, and approaches in character the wedge- 

 shaped bill of the woodpeckers. Formidable as this weapon 

 is, its efficiency is increased by the singular manner in which 

 it is sometimes used. The bird seems to have an idea when 

 additional force is required, and instead of striking with the 

 bill by the movement of the neck alone, it throws the whole 

 weight of its body into the blow, turning itself as it were 

 into the hea.d of a hammer, which swings upon the feet as a 

 pivot. 



