BRITISH BIRDS. 



231 



THE PARROT CROSS BILL. 



(Loxia Pity ops ittacus, Bechst. Bec-croise per roquet, 

 Temm.) 



THE above figure was taken from a preserved 

 specimen obligingly lent to this work by Sir 

 William Jardine, Bart. The bird was shot in 

 Ross-shire, in 1822. In Mr. Selby's splendid work 

 on Ornithology, so creditable to his zeal in the 

 cause of science, this bird occupies a distinct place, 

 agreeably to M. Temminck's arrangement. The 

 bill is dark horn colour; irides hazel: the pre- 

 dominant colour is red, rather clouded on the back, 

 and more or less mixed with green on the breast, 

 belly, and vent ; ' hinder part of the neck is mixed 

 with dark ash; the wings and tail dusky, each 

 feather distinctly edged either with a pale colour, 

 or with pale green; the legs and toes dusky; claws 



