74 GRAMINIVOR.E. 



They are singular birds, both in the form of their bills and in 

 some of their habits. 



The bill is of considerable length for the size of the bird, 

 very strong, and the mandibles are, towards the points, 

 which are very strong and sharp, curved in opposite direc- 

 tions, so that when the bill is in a state of repose, they lie 

 across each other with the points projecting towards the 

 opposite sides. The cutting edges of the mandibles are bent 

 inward on their inner or convex sides, so that the one can 

 slide upon the other with a very firm support, and yet an 

 easy motion. 



One accustomed only to see the action of ordinary bills, 

 whether straight or curved, which have only the common 

 vertical motion, or that slight lateral or grinding one, which 

 all birds that have the tomia of the mandibles turned 

 inwards, and the habit of shelling seeds with tough husks, 

 possess, would be very apt to regard the'crossed mandibles of 

 these birds as forming a very ungainly instrument for any 

 useful purpose. But it very often happens that, in the ani- 

 mated creation, those organizations which, to our partial and 

 superficial view, seem awkward, are really the very best 

 adapted for their several purposes. We have many instances 

 of that in the feet of birds, especially in the anisodactylic 

 feet, such as those of the creeper, among finches, and in the 

 feet of the grebes among swimmers ; and the bills of the 

 birds under consideration are just as admirably adapted for 

 the obtaining of their peculiar species of food. 



The seeds of the pines, which, until the cone has been 

 exposed to the action of the weather for a considerable time 

 after the seeds are ripe, are so firmly enclosed between the 

 ligneous scales as that the bill of no ordinary bird could 

 reach them, are the chief food of the cross-bills : and the bill 

 consists of a very powerful pair of levers, by means of which 

 the scales can be wrenched open, and the seeds arrived at in 



