BIRDS MD NATURE 



ILLUSTRATED BY COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY. 



THB AMERICAN CROSS BILL 



MERICAN CROSSBILLS 

 are notable for their small 

 size, being considered and 

 described as dwarfs of 

 the family. Their food 

 consists exclusively of pine, fir, and 

 larch, which accounts for the fact that 

 they are more numerous in Northern 

 latitudes where these trees abound. 

 When the cones are abundant they 

 visit in great numbers many places 

 where they have not been for years, 

 appearing at irregular intervals, and 

 not confining themselves to particular 

 localities. 



They are very social even dur- 

 ing the nesting season. Their nests 

 are built among the branches of 

 the fir trees, and there they disport 

 themselves gaily, climbing nimbly, 

 and assisting their movements, as 

 parrots do, with their beaks. They 

 will hang downv/ard for minutes cling- 

 ing to a twig or cone, seeming to enjoy 

 this apparently uncomfortable position. 

 They fly rapidly, but never to a great 

 distance. " The pleasure they experi- 

 ence in the society of their mates is 

 often displayed by fluttering over the 

 tops of the trees as they sing, after 

 which they hover fora time, and then 

 sink slowly to their perch. In the 

 day time they are generally in motion, 

 with the exception of a short time at 

 noon. During the spring, summer and 



autumn they pass their time in flying 

 from one plantation to another." 



The Crossbill troubles itself but little 

 about the other inhabitants of the 

 woods, and is said to be almost fearless 

 of man. Should the male lose his 

 mate, he will remain sorrowfully 

 perched upon the branch from which 

 his little companion has fallen ; again 

 and again visit the spot in the hope of 

 finding her; indeed it is only after 

 repeated proofs that she will never 

 return that he begins to show any 

 symptoms of shyness. 



In feeding the Crossbill perches upon 

 a cone with its head downwards, or 

 lays the cone upon a branch and stands 

 upon it, holding it fast with his sharp, 

 strong pointed claws. Sometimes it 

 will bite ofl" a cone and carry it to a 

 neighboring bough, or to another tree 

 where it can be, opened, for a suitable 

 spot is not to be found on every branch. 



The nest is formed of pine twigs, 

 lined with feathers, soft grass, and the 

 needle-like leaves of the fir tree. 

 Three or four eggs of a grayish or 

 bluish white color, streaked with faint 

 blood red, reddish brown, or bluish 

 brown spots, are generally laid. 



The following poem is quite a favor- 

 ite among bird lovers, and is one of 

 those quaint legends that will nevei 

 die. 



THE LEGEND OF THE CROSSBILL. 



From the German of Julius Mosen, by I,ongfellow. 



On the cross the dying Saviour 

 Heavenward lifts his eyelids calm, 



Feels, but scarcely feels, a trembling 

 In his pierced and bleeding palm. 



And by all the world forsaken, 

 Sees he how with zealous care 



At the ruthless nail of iron 

 A little bird is striving there. 



Stained with blood and never tiring, 

 With its beak it doth not cease, 



From the cross it would free the Saviour, 

 Its Creator's son release. 



And the Saviour speaks in mildness: 

 " Blest be thou of all the good ! 



Bear, as token of this moment, 

 Marks of blood and holy rood!" 



And that bird is called the Crossbill, 

 Covered all with blood so clear, 



In the groves of pine it sii-geth, 

 Songs, like legends, straiige to hear. 



