52 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS 
could. They tore to pieces perch after perch, so that incessant renewal was 
necessary; then they began to tear away the woodwork of the cage, which was 
anything but pleasing to me, as it had cost me more money than I could afford 
to throw away: moreover, they fought for supremacy, and their bad language at 
such times was incessant chip-chip-chip. At last the chzp of beak and tongue was 
more than I could stand, and I greatly desired to be rid of the dear creatures. 
I think it likely that my Crossbills refused to take the trouble to eat apple- 
pips, because they were well supplied with sunflower-seed, with which they were 
perfectly satisfied. On the 6th February, 1887, I removed the Crossbills from their 
large wooden-framed flight-cage to a much smaller metal prison (such is sometimes 
used for Canaries); two days later the cock-bird discovered how to open the door ; 
and, after carefully shutting it behind him, flew up to the roof of the greenhouse 
in which the cage was hung, and amused himself by walking about on the creepers 
head downwards. It was quite three quarters of an hour before he could be again 
secured in his cage, and he used his mandibles to some purpose upon his captor. 
The door of the cage was now fastened with wire, to prevent another exhibition 
of the bird’s skill as a prison-breaker. On the morning of the goth the cock-bird 
died, apparently out of pique, for we could discover no cause for his death, his 
organs being all in perfect condition; but possibly he may have been squeezed 
when captured: the following day the hen had a fit and followed his example. 
Thus my hope of exchanging my Crossbills for some less destructive species were 
disappointed. 
Family—FRINGILLIDA. Subjamily—FRINGILLINA:. 
THE PINE-GROSBEAK. 
Pyrrhula cnucleator, LANN. 
ROM time to time some five and twenty occurrences of this species in Great 
Britain have been recorded; but, as Howard Saunders says :—‘“ Professor 
Newton (4th Ed. Yarrell’s B. B.) has disposed of all but five as unworthy of belief; 
