COMMON CROSSBILL. 



139 



TNSESSOBES. FRINGILLIDJE. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CXVI. 



COMMON CROSSBILL. 



LOXIA CURVIROSTRA. 



These curious birds, singular alike in form and habits, 

 in their changes of plumage and times of breeding, have 

 been long known in this country as occasional visitants, 

 whose peculiarity of appearance and manners did not fail 

 to be observed and commented upon, even centuries ago, 

 when ornithology was a study little thought of or cultivated. 

 Their habits and times of appearance in this country are 

 still somewhat obscure and ill defined, but from Temminck 

 and other continental authors, whose facilities of observation 

 are more favourable, ma.ny particulars may be learned, which 

 will enable us to unite some of the unconnected links of 

 their history. 



The Common Crossbill inhabits the northern parts of the 

 Old World, as far towards the Arctic regions, as the trees ne- 

 cessary to their subsistence exist. It is found in the north of 

 Sweden and Norway, in Russia and Siberia. From such 

 northern parts, these birds spread themselves over Europe to 

 its centre, being plentiful in Poland and Prussia, and common 

 in many parts of Germany. In Holland and France it is 

 said to be less frequently met with, and is still more rare 

 in Switzerland. According to Mr. Audubon, this species is 

 also common to parts of the American continent, most 



