82 BRITISH BIRDS. 



GENUS XLVI. LOXIA, Linnxus (1766). 



Bill moderately long, strong, stout at base, both man- 

 dibles tapering towards tips, which are much curved and 

 cross one another. Wings rather long, pointed, ist 

 primary minute. Tarsus short ; claws tolerably large, 

 rather curved. 



101. Loxia eurvirostra, Linn. CROSSBILL. 



Hab. Palaearctic region, north to within Arctic Circle. 

 Partially migratory in winter. 



Male : greyish-brown, suffused more or less generally 

 with light crimson ; tail and wings dark brown, with pale 

 margins to wing-coverts ; bill and tarsi dark brown. 

 Length 6*00. Young males are dull greenish-brown, 

 palest below, with darker striations, and with a yellow 

 tinge on the rump. Female : suffused with bright greenish 

 yellow instead of red. 



Fairly frequent during winter in England, and has also 

 nested occasionally in nearly every county, while it breeds 

 regularly in many parts of Scotland ; in Ireland breeds 

 irregularly in the south and east. Nest : on horizontal 

 branches of firs at variable heights ; composed of twigs, 

 dry grasses, wool, etc., lined with finer grass and hair. 

 Eggs : 4 or 5 ; bluish or greyish-white, sparingly spotted 

 with two shades of reddish-brown ; larger than Green- 

 finch's ; size '90 by '68 ; usually laid early in March. 

 Food : seeds obtained by prizing open fir-cones, also 

 berries and apple-pips, with some insects in summer. 



lOla. L. eupvirostpa pityopsittaeus (Bech.). 

 PARROT CROSSBILL. 



Hab. Pine forests of Scandinavia and Northern 

 Russia ; migrating southward in winter. 



