CRoOSSBILL. PASSERES. LOXIA. Q51 
Genus XXXVI. CROSSBILL. LOXIA, Briss. 
GENERIC CHARACTERS. 
Bul rather long. Both mandibles equally convex and very 
strong, much compressed, and, when at rest, crossing each 
other at the points ; and having their tomia, from the middle 
forward, bending inwards. Nostrils round, basal, and late- 
ral, hidden by reflected bristly feathers. Feet, with three 
toes before, and one behind, the anterior ones entirely divi- 
ded. Wings having the first and second quills of equal 
length, the third being the longest. 
The genus Loxia of the older authors has undergone a 
very judicious revision, and the Bullfinches and Grosbeaks, 
which were included in it, have been classed more suitably 
according to the characters they possess. There are but 
three members of the genus, as at present established. They 
are inhabitants of the northern parts of Europe, and of 
North America, living in the forests of pines and firs so 
abundant in these countries; and the seeds of which trees 
form their chief food. These they are enabled to arrive at 
by the powerful lever they possess in their singular bill, so 
admirably adapted for wrenching open the scales of the fruit. 
Their period of nidification is unusual, being in the middle 
of the winter months. During summer they retire farther 
to the northward. 
Common Crossbill.—Loxia curvirostra, Linz. 
PLATE 58. 
Loxia curvirostra, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 299. 1.—Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 843. sp. 1.— 
Lath. Ind. Ornith. v. 1. p. 370. sp. 1.—Cuv. Reg. Anim. v. 1. p. 391. 
Loxia, Rati, Syn. p. 86. A.—Will. p. 181. 1. 44.— Briss. 3. p. 299. t. 17. f. 3. 
Le Bec croisé, Buff. Ois. v. 3. p. 449, t. 27. f. 2.—Jd. Pl. Enl. 218. 
Bec croisé commun, ou des Pins, Temm. Man. d’Ornith. v- 1. p. 328. 
Fichten Kreuzschnabe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. v. 3. p. 4. t. 3. f 1.—Meyer, 
Tasschenb. Deut. v. 1. p. 140.—Jd. Vog. Deut. v. 1. figures of different 
ages. 
