PASSERINE BIRDS. 



Finches, for the same reason that we call the little " Love Birds " Sparrow Parrots ; indeed, the 

 resemblance they bear to the parrots is very striking, as is seen not only in the contour of their body, 

 but in its structure, as well as in their demeanour and peculiar habits. Such, for example, are — 



The CROSS-BILLS (Loxics), which, although but few species are known, may be said to form a 

 separate family. They not only differ from other Passeres, but from all other birds, in the formation 

 of their beak. This very remarkable instrument is thick and strongly arched, its ridge or oilmen is 



THE LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL (Loxia pityopsittacus). 



high and rounded, the mandibles are broad at their origin, but suddenly separate, and terminate in 

 sharp points that are bent across each other, the under-jaw being inclined sometimes to the right 

 side, sometimes to the left, without any general rule being observable in this respect ; there are, 

 indeed, as many that have their beaks twisted to the right as in the opposite direction. It is, more- 

 over, specially noticeable that the muscles moving the lower jaw are unequally developed on the two 

 sides of the head, an arrangement which must be considered as a necessary consequence of the 

 sidelong movements of the jaw. The head is large in comparison with that of other finches, the body 

 short, but slender and high ; the keel of the breast-bone is long and arched, resembling that of the 



