CHAP, viii.] CROSSBILLS. 71 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Crossbills: Habits of; Nest Snowy Owl Great-eared Owl Hoopoe 

 Shrike Tawny and Snow Bunting Lizards Singular Pets Toads : 

 Utility of; Combats of Adders Dog and Snakes Large Snake Blind- 

 Worm. 



WHILST walking through the extensive fir and larch woods in 

 this neighbourhood, I am often much amused by the proceedings 

 of those curious little birds the crossbills. They pass incessantly 

 from tree to tree with a jerking quick flight in search of their 

 food, which consists of the seeds of the fir and larch. They ex- 

 tract these from the cones with the greatest skill and rapidity, 

 holding the cone in one foot, and cutting it up quickly and tho- 

 roughly with their powerful beak, which they use much after the 

 manner of a pair of scissors. When the flock has stripped one 

 tree of all the sound cones, they simultaneously take wing, 

 uttering at the same time a sharp harsh chattering cry. Sometimes 

 they fly off to a considerable height, and after wheeling about 

 for a short time, suddenly alight again on some prolific-looking 

 tree, over which they disperse immediately, hanging and swinging 

 about the branches and twigs, cutting off the cones, a great many of 

 which they fling to the ground, often with a kind of impatient 

 jerk. These cones, I conclude, are without any ripe seed. They 

 continue uttering a constant chirping while in search of their 

 fo<xl on the branches. I have never succeeded in finding the 

 nest of the crossbill, though I am confident that they breed in 

 this country, having seen the birds during every month of ,tlie 

 year, so that either some barren ones must remain, or they hatch 

 their young here. The nest lias been described to me as placed 

 at a considerable height from the ground, at the junction of some 

 large branch with the main stem. 



The crossbill itself is a busy, singular-looking little fellow, as 

 he flits to and fro, or climbs, parrot-like, up and down the 

 branches ; and the cock, with his red plumage shining in the 



