90 FRINGILLID^E. 



GENUS XLIV LOXIA (CROSSBILL). 

 SPECIES 88 THE COMMON CROSSBILL. 



Loxia curvirostra. Linn. 

 Bec-croise des pins. Temm. 



THE CROSSBILL is one of the most interesting of those birds 

 which excite attention by their irregular appearance, some- 

 times only occurring after a considerable period, and again as 

 unexpectedly spreading themselves in numbers over different 

 portions of the island. 



Possessing equal interest from the curious manner in which 

 both mandibles are crossed, it has obtained a greater amount 

 of notice than the majority of the occasional migrating birds 

 which visit Ireland. Usually appearing during winter, it 

 obtains abundance of food on the seed and cones of the Scotch 

 fir, larch, and other pines, and occasionally on the berries of 

 the hawthorn. 



Few birds coming under the observation of the ornitholo- 

 gist are more curious in habits than the crossbill. Feeding 

 in flocks upon the pine cones, they allow us to approach di- 

 rectly beneath them without the slightest indication of alarm, 

 and so unsuspecting are they of danger, that dozens have been 

 obtained without disturbing the birds feeding beside them, in 

 the following manner. A fishing rod is raised up gently 

 towards the birds, with the upper joint limed with birdlime, 

 and, tipping the nearest bird lightly with it, it is captured, and 

 so on until one has obtained any number. Sometimes, also, 

 they are procured by a horsehair noose attached to the end 

 of a rod, and jerked off their perch with the greatest ease. 

 Equally interesting when in confinement, it transfers its 

 scansorial habits to the cage, and climbs in all directions, with 

 its beak and claws labouring assiduously to discover an open- 

 ing to regain its liberty. Indeed, as regards its powers of 

 climbing, we might challenge the parrot (in this respect) to 

 excel the crossbill in confinement. In some rare instances 

 the crossbill has been noticed as breeding in Ireland.* In 

 Germany the. crossbill has been made the subject of a very 

 beautiful myth, in allusion to its blood-red colour, the legend 

 of which, translated by Longfellow from the original of Mosen, 

 we place before our readers :f 



" On the cross the dying Saviour 



Heavenward lifts his eyelids calm, 



Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling 



In his pierced and bleeding palm. 



* Thompson. t Longfellow's Works. 



