294 NATURAL HISTORY. 



tip of the tongue. This singular structure of the beak enables 

 the bird to divide an apple in halves, so as to get at the pips. 

 Although the crossed mandibles appear rather a barrier to 

 picking up small objects, yet the Crossbill can pick up and 

 husk the smallest seeds, or shell almonds, which latter ieat is 

 accomplished by picking a hole in it and then wrenching it 

 open, just as an idle schoolboy opens a nut with his penknife 

 when he ought to be using that instrument in the more 

 legitimate operation of mending his pen. Mr. Yarrcll gives 

 an amusing account of a pair of Crossbills, who amused them- 

 selves by twisting out the wires of their cage. They actually 

 succeeded in pulling out a flat-headed nail used to confine the 

 network, but the bird lost the point of his bill in his efforts. 

 They were at last banished on account of their unceasing 

 destruction of cages. 



The nest is built on the branches of a fir-tree. The eggs 

 are bluish white spotted with red. In taking leave of the 

 finches, it may be mentioned that the Canary belongs to that 

 family, but has not been described, as being essentially a cage 

 bird, and perfectly familiar to every one. 



A lady opening her window, saw a bullfinch sitting on the 

 sill. To her surprise the bird did not fly away, but suffered 

 itself to be taken and carried into the room. When placed 

 on the table it still sat quiet, but looked as if it were suffering 

 from illness. On examination, a seed was found to be fixed 

 in the bird's throat. This was quickly removed with a needle, 

 and the bird became quite lively. It however soon met 

 with a tragical end, for while a cage was being prepared for 

 its reception, it escaped from the hands of its benefactress, 

 flew against a window pane, and instantly fell dead on the 

 floor.* 



THE RHINOCEROS HORNBILL. 



This singular and almost startling family comprises but 

 few species, which are all natives of India and Africa. The 

 enormous bill, with its incomprehensible appendage, although 

 of course heavy, is really much lighter than it looks, being 

 composed of a kind of light honeycombed structure. The 



* This anecdote was related to me by an eye-witness of the scene. 



