86 cassell's book of birds. 



woodpeckers. The plumage is thick and soft, the wings of middle length, narrow, and pointed ; the 

 tail-feathers strong, narrow, and short, those at the side being considerably longer than those in the 

 middle. The tarsi and bones of the leg are bowed inwards, and are short and strong ; the toes long, 

 with stout, curved, pointed claws. The eyes are small and prominent ; the nostrils round, placed 

 close to the forehead, and almost or entirely covered with hair-like feathers. The internal construc- 

 tion of the body does not differ from that of other birds of this order. 



Like most other species belonging to the Passeres, the Cross-bills live in society, seldom leaving 

 the woods, wherein they find fir-trees adapted to their support. They cannot be said to have any 

 fixed residence, but are the gipsies of the feathered race; their home is anywhere and nowhere. It is 

 by no means easy to discriminate between the different species of these birds, seeing that every 

 extensive collection shows us many varieties, strongly resembling each other. We may, however, 

 safely mention four different species belonging to Europe, and in the mountainous districts of Asia 

 and America we also find about that number ; all these, however, present not only the same general 

 structure, but a similar colouring of the feathers. The plumage of the old male bird is of a beautiful 

 vermilion or red-currant tint, while that of the young male is of either a reddish yellow, gold, greenish 

 gold, or red chalk colour. The coat of the female is green, shaded into yellow or grey. The plumage 

 of the birds before moulting is a light grey, streaked with a darker shade ; the wings and tail-feathers 

 are of a greyish black. The large head and strong beak, bulky feet, and short tail, make them 

 appear very stout and clumsy, nevertheless they are really agile and rapid, flying quickly and 

 lightly, hovering before they perch, climbing nimbly about among the branches, and are only awkward 

 and out of place upon the ground. 



THE LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL. 

 The Large-beaked Cross-bill (Loxia pityopsittacus), the largest of all the Cross-bills with 

 which we are acquainted, is from seven to seven and a half inches in length, and eleven and a half 

 to twelve inches across the wings. The beak strongly resembles that of a parrot, and is very thick 

 and high, bent into a crescent, each mandible terminating in a short hook. The prevailing colour in 

 the plumage of the old male is either a dark or light vermilion ; the wing and tail covers greyish 

 black, edged with greyish red ; the belly greyish white. The young male is recognised by its light- 

 reddish tints, which upon the back are mingled with greenish yellow, and upon the rump with yellow. 

 The female is dark grey on the upper part of the body, and the feathers have a more or less clearly 

 defined edge of green or yellowish green. The under part of the body is light grey, the feathers 

 being edged with greenish yellow ; the wing and tail feathers are greyish black, dotted with greenish 

 grey. 



THE PINE-TREE CROSS-BILL. 



The Pine-tree Cross-bill (Loxia cun'irostra), or Fir-Parrot, is a somewhat weaker and more 

 slender bird than the preceding. Its length is from six to six and a half inches ; its width across 

 the wings ten and a half to eleven and a half inches. This species is distinguished from the 

 foregoing by its longer and more delicate beak ; the plumage of both birds being similarly coloured. 



THE BANDED CROSS-BILL. 

 Next to these we must mention the Banded Cross-bill (Loxia ttznioptcra), a much rarer species, 

 smaller than the Pine-tree Cross-bill, and having a still more delicate beak. It is distinguished by 

 two white lines upon the wings. We think it very probable that many other Cross-bills usually 

 mentioned as varieties ought really to be considered as constituting distinct species. 



