PASSERINE BIRDS. 9 1 



and lined with feathers, soft grass, and the needle-like leaves of the fir-tree. The walls are about an inch 

 thick, and strongly woven together, the interior being tolerably deep. All the nests that we see in 

 this country are thus constructed, and therefore it is rather surprising to hear from Eckstrbm, one of 

 the first Swedish naturalists, that in Sweden " the Large-beaked Cross-bill builds a round nest, formed 

 of twigs, intenvoven with other materials, and of such a large size that it is at least an ell in diameter ; 

 the entrance being perfectly round, and so small that the bird can only pass in and out with difficulty ; 

 while the interior is large enough to hold a man's fist. The winter nests," as he tells us, " are built in 

 this manner ; those for summer use are smaller, and have thinner walls." We mention this statement, 

 though we are by no means sure that it applies to the species with which we are familiar. We had 

 once an opportunity of observing a female Cross-bill whilst building. She commenced by breaking 

 off dry twigs, and carrying them to the spot she had chosen for the nest, and then flew in search 

 of such scraps as she could find, carrying away a whole beakful at a time, and laying them in their 

 proper place. As soon as the rounding of the exterior nest was accomplished, the bird got inside and 

 spent some time in pushing it with her breast and pulling until it was somewhat in order. She took 

 all the materials from a neighbouring tree, and was so industrious that she continued her work during 

 the afternoon, only requiring from two to three minutes to prepare and carry each load. The brood 

 consists of from three to four rather small eggs, of a greyish or blueish white colour, streaked with 

 faint blood red, reddish brown, or blackish brown spots ; sometimes these spots take the form of a 

 wreath round the broad end of the egg, and sometimes cover the whole of its surface. 



The careful mother nurses her young with the greatest attention, whilst the male fulfils his task 

 of tending her and supplying all her wants. The nestlings are fed from the first day of their life on 

 the seeds of the fir or pine, softened in the crop of the old birds and half digested, but after a 

 short time they are able to take them without this preparation. They rapidly attain their full size, 

 and are active and lively, but require parental attention for the lengthened period during which their 

 mandibles are not crossed, as until they are so the young are incapable of opening cones for them- 

 selves. After leaving the nest, they seek shelter in the thickest trees, in the vicinity of their parents, 

 and while the latter are procuring fir-cones, as above described, will cry uninterruptedly, like naughty 

 children, following the old birds hastily should they leave the tree, or calling long and dismally until 

 their return. After a time they are taught to work, their parents commencing by giving them half 

 opened cones to practise upon, and afterwards such as have only been bitten from the trees. When 

 the young are quite independent in this respect, they form fresh flocks, or associate themselves with 

 that of their parents. 



It is easy to ensnare the Cross-bill if it is enticed to the ground by the help of a tame bird. In 

 some parts of Germany high poles are prepared, covered with pine branches, in which limed twigs are 

 concealed ; these are then placed in the upper parts of the woods, and a decoy-bird fastened beneath 

 them, which contrives to attract the attention of all that fly over it, so that many perch upon the 

 bushes and limed twigs ; in this manner numbers may be caught in the course of a morning. 



We must leave it undecided whether a most remarkable species found in the Sandwich Islands 

 be reckoned among the Cross-bills or not. Many naturalists have no hesitation in so placing it, 

 though Reichenbach believes it to be more nearly allied to the Honey-eaters, with whom our readers 

 will shortly be made acquainted, than to the Finches. This bird, which we shall call the Parrot- 

 Greenfinch (Psittirostra psittaccd), appears to be even more of a connecting link between the Parrots 

 and the Finches than the Cross-bill or the Parrot-Bullfinch, as its two names clearly express. In size 

 it resembles our bullfinch, its length being about six and three-quarter inches, and the length of the 

 wings three and a half inches. The plumage is of a beautiful parrot-green, intermixed with grey 



