LOXIA. 



29 



The chief characteristic m the present group of birds is their parrot-like 

 bill, the upper mandible being curved to such an extent that it overlaps 

 the under mandible at the point, in some species crossing its point. An 

 almost equally important character is the change which takes place in the 

 colour of the plumage from the young to the adult, beginning with green 

 and passing through yellow into red. 



This genus probably contains only four well-defined species, several of 

 which are, however, subject to considerable local variation. The range of 

 this genus is principally confined to the Palsearctic and Nearctic Regions, 

 extending in the former to the Himalayas and in the latter to the Mexican 

 plateaux. 



The Crossbills frequent fir-, pine-, and larch-forests duriag the breeding- 

 season ; but at other times of the year they frequently haunt gardens, 

 orchards, deciduous woods, and small plantations and shrubberies. After 

 the breeding-season they are more or less gregarious and often associate 

 with other birds. Their song is low and somewhat sweet, and their call- 

 notes are harsh, but sometimes more musical. They breed very early, 

 often before the snow is melted. Their nests are open and cup-shaped, 

 made of twigs, moss, rootlets, wool, &c., and placed at various heights 

 in conifer trees. Their eggs are five or six in number, white or bluish 

 white in ground-colour, spotted and blotched with reddish brown of 

 different shades. Their food consists of seeds, fruits, berries, and insects 

 of different kinds. 



