162 



THE CROSS BILLS. 



BANDED CBGSSBILIfi. 



act, they are so intent on the business, as frequently to suffer them 

 selves to be caught by means of a horse-hair noose fixed to a long 

 fishing-rod. They are discovered by the twittering noise they make 

 while feeding. 



The d agree of lateral force which they are able to exert, is very 

 surprising. This, which they are at times fond of exercising for mere 

 amusement, renders them, in a tame state, not a little mischievous. 

 The Cross-bills which Dr. Townson had at Gottingen would often 

 come to his table while he was writing, and carry off his pencils, little 

 ship boxes in which he occasionally kept insects, and other similar 

 objects, and tear them to pieces almost instantaneously. Their mode 

 if operation was first to peck a little hole; to insert into this their 



