318 OUU NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



The woodcutters of Thiiringia have a great 

 respect for the crossbills and their nests, on ac- 

 count of a superstition Avhicli they have respecting 

 them. The birds, when in captivity, are subject 

 to several diseases, such as swelling of the feet, 

 and weakness of the eyes. The mountaineer of 

 Thuringia believes that these poor, hapless birds 

 will take to themselves diseases which else would 

 fall upon himself or family, and therefore keeps 

 them in cages to avert calamity. He feels per- 

 suaded that a bird which has an upper mandible 

 turning to the right, will take the rheumatism or 

 cold from himself; while he is well assured that if 

 it turns to the left, his wife or daughter will escape 

 these evils, and they will become the lot of the 

 bird. Like many caged birds, the crossbill, too, 

 suffers from epilepsy ; and the Thuringian drinks, 

 in all good faith, the water left in the morning in 

 the little vase of the bird-cage, believing it to be 

 a certain means of preventing that disease. 



The crossbill is a native of the northern countries 

 of Europe and Asia. It builds a nest of fine small 

 twigs and coarse moss, lining it with softer moss. 

 Its eggs are of greyish white, spotted and dashed 

 with red. Its song is described as consisting of 

 a few sharp strains. 



