426 CROSS-BILLED GROSBEAK. Class IL 



nuary and February. They feed on the seeds 

 of the cones of pines and firs, and are very dex- 

 terous in scaling them, for Avhich purpose the 

 cross structure of the lower mandible of their bill 

 is admirably adapted; they feed also on hemp 

 seed, and the pips or kernels of apples, and are 

 said to divide an apple with one stroke of the 

 bill to get at the contents. Lhmdeus*' says, 

 that the upper mandible of this bird is move- 

 able ; but on examination we could not dis- 

 cover its structure to differ from that of others 

 of the genus. 



It is an undoubted fact, that these birds 

 change their colors ; or rather the shades of 

 their colors : that is, the males which are red, 

 vary at certain seasons to deep red, to orange, 

 or to a sort of a yellow : the females which are 

 green, alter to different varieties of the same 

 color. 



Cross-bills are rare in Italy. jMy friend, 

 John Strange, Esq. informed me that they 

 have appeared in flocks in Tuscany among the 

 cypresses and pines, for the sake of the cones, 

 a favorite food with them. The form of the 

 bill astonished the peasants, to whom they were 

 before quite unknown. 



* Faun. Suec. sp 224. 



