QO cassell's book of birds. 



middle of the outside with its upper mandible, inserts its half-opened beak, and forces an opening by 

 a sideway motion of the jaws ; it is then easy for it to pick out the seeds, which are soon swallowed. 

 The breaking up of the husks produces a cracking sound, that is heard very distinctly from below. 

 The cones are seldom completely emptied of their seeds, but are thrown down to the ground when 

 scarcely touched, or not more than half cleared, so that the grass beneath the trees on which a party 

 of these creatures has been perched is often completely strewn with them. When, however, there 

 are no more to be gathered, the birds will seek and feed upon those they have previously flung 

 away. The Pine Cross-bill seldom touches the far harder cones of other fir-trees, as it does not 

 possess strength sufficient to open them, though the Large-beaked species breaks them without 

 difficulty, and can at one stroke tear off all the husks into the midst of which it has plunged its beak. 

 A cone is thus rifled of its contents in the space of two minutes, when it is immediately thrown down 

 and another taken. Should the Cross-bill not be disturbed, it will remain for hours upon the same 

 tree, and continue for weeks together in one part of the country. As long as fir-cones can be found, 

 it seems not to care for other food ; but if driven by hunger it will eat oily seeds such as those of the 

 hemp or thistle, or even insects, seeking for them in the neighbouring gardens and orchards. These 

 birds are cleanly in their habits, preening themselves carefully after every meal, and rubbing their beak 

 for minutes at a time upon the branches, in order to cleanse it. Still, it is not always possible for 

 them to keep their plumage trim, and their feathers are frequently covered with a coating of resin. 

 The feeding of the Cross-bills on the fir-cones has another very remarkable result. Their flesh 

 becomes so penetrated with resin that it will resist putrefaction for a lengthened period. It acquires 

 by exposure a peculiar smell, but cannot be said to decay. We have made many experiments upon 

 this subject, and always with the same result ; there is a specimen now lying before us, which was shot 

 during the extreme heat of last summer, and still retains its feathers. We have even seen a mummy 

 of this bird which was twenty years old. That the resin imbibed is the only cause of this peculiarity 

 is proved by the fact that specimens which have lived upon other diet for some time before their 

 deaths, share the ordinary fate of dead birds. The Cross-bills are at all times a great ornament 

 to our woods ; but it is only in the winter, when the snow is on the ground, that we appreciate their 

 full beauty. At such times their brilliant red forms may be seen perched on the dark green branches, 

 and as the white, snow-covered ground throws them into strong relief, the fir upon which they rest 

 presents the appearance of a vast Christmas tree. Their appearance is rendered still more attractive 

 by the circumstance that they usually assemble to breed during the winter season ; though they will 

 also lay eggs during other months of the year — as readily in the height of summer as when the snow 

 lies thick upon the branches, and all other living inhabitants of the woods are silent. They seem 

 to trouble themselves but little about the change of seasons. At the breeding time the pairs into 

 which the flock separates, choose the finest trees in the woods, whereon they make the cradles for 

 their young, as near together as possible. The male then perches himself upon the highest branch of 

 the most lofty tree, singing energetically, calling to his mate incessantly, and turning himself in all 

 directions, seeming to wish to exhibit himself and his beauty to her in all points of view. If she, 

 however, does not answer his call, he flies to another tree and recommences his song. Should she 

 still linger, he chases her sportively from branch to branch, uttering his piping cry ; at such times the 

 Large-beaked Cross-bill accompanies these endeavours to attract the notice of his mate with a peculiar 

 fluttering of his wings, often rising into the air and then settling again in the same place ; these 

 demonstrations continue till about noon, when the building of the nest commences. This is made 

 upon some widely-projecting or forked branch, and is always situated so as to be well covered by the 

 twigs that hang over it, partly to guard the little family from any snow that might fall, and partly for the 

 sake of concealment. The nest is most artistically constructed. It is formed externally of pine twigs, 



