144 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



This bird is not very generally known in England, on 

 account of its short stay with us ; and except for the peculiar 

 formation of its beak, the many varieties of its plumage 

 might be a source of indecision in the minds of many 

 amateur ornithologists. 



The Crossbills, somewhat like Parrots, are easily tame- 

 able, and may be kept either in a cage or aviary; their 

 beaks, however, are very strong, and the cage should, there- 

 fore,, be principally of tin and wire, as mere mahogany is 

 very easily torn to pieces by the birds. A spirit of 

 mischief, too, seems to induce them to demolish their cage 

 if it happens to be of wood. They are, however, some- 

 what hardy, and will climb about their cage with the aid 

 of their beak, in a manner to warrant their being called 

 the " European Parrot."" 



