560 COMMON CROSSBILL. 



Nothing can exceed the dexterity with which they extricate the seeds 

 from the cones with their bill, the point of the upper mandible of which 

 they employ as a hook, placing it at the base of the seed, and drawing it 

 up with a sudden jerk of the head. They frequently stand on one foot 

 only, and employ the other in conveying the food to their bill, in the 

 manner of parrots. They are fond of all saline matter. 



The flight of this species is undulating, firm, tolerably swift, and ca- 

 pable of being protracted over a large space. While travelling they pass 

 in the air in straggling flocks, and keep up a constant noise, each indivi- 

 dual now and then emitting a clear note or call. They move with ease 

 on the ground, alight sidewise on the walls of houses and on trees, on 

 the twigs of which they climb with the aid of their bill. When caged 

 they soon become tame, and are fed without any difficulty. 



I have presented you with a flock of these Crossbills, composed of in- 

 dividuals of different ages, engaged in their usual occupations, on a 

 branch of their favourite tree, the hemlock pine. 



Much has been said and repeated respecting the colours of this species 

 as connected with the differences of sex and age. Accustomed as I am 

 to judge of every thing relating to ornithology on the spot where I can 

 procui'e specimens, and examine them with all necessary care, I have not 

 failed to employ this method in the present case, and I now give it as my 

 opinion that, although learned naturalists may contradict what I am about 

 to state, it will eventually be acknowledged to be correct. I have shot as 

 many specimens of this Crossbill as I could desire, and on opening per- 

 haps more than sixty, which I should suppose enough to know their sexes, 

 in early spring, summer, autumn and winter, I found the young of the 

 year in July invariably similar to the females which had evidently laid 

 eggs that season, excepting that they were smaller, and had their tints 

 duller. The males, which had either been paired or not that season, but 

 which, however, were older than the first (a fact easily ascertained by the 

 inspection of their stronger bills, legs and claws, and their stronger, harder 

 and tougher flesh), shewed a considerable quantity of red mixed with 

 yellow on the rump, head and breast. Others having equal appearances 

 of age were of a dull olive-yellow, and proved to be females. In such 

 specimens as had the bill very much worn on its edges, and the legs and 

 feet diseased from the adhesion of the resinous matter of the fir trees, on 

 which they spend most of their time, and roost on them at night, were of 

 a bright brick-red in certain lights, changing alternately to carmine or 



