COMMON CROSSBILL. 141 



enable them to extract from bcneatli the scales by which they 

 are protected, and which the powerful lateral motion with 

 which their beaks are endued, enables them to raise with 

 facility. It is a pleasing sight in winter, when the fir-trees 

 are covered with snow, to see a group of these gay birds in 

 their many-coloured plumage fluttering among the tops of the 

 fir-trees, in diligent search for their food. The larch, the 

 alder, and various other trees also supply their food, and they 

 have been observed to resort to patches of thistles, and pick 

 the seed from them. 



These birds breed freely in the pine forests that cover 

 great part of the north of Europe. Their nests are placed 

 usually towards the tops of the trees, and at a considerable 

 elevation. It is composed of fine twigs of the fir-tree or 

 stalks of heath, with grass, straws, and green moss, the 

 inside is lined with the dead wirey leaves of the fir, inter- 

 mixed warmly with, feathers. The eggs of the Common 

 Crossbill are white, sometimes tinged with blue or green ; 

 they are spotted chiefly about the larger end with violet 

 and deep claret-red, or brown ; some are said to resemble 

 the eggs of the greenfinch, but are usually larger, others 

 resemble the specimen figured in our plate ; they are from 

 three to five in number. The seasons of building and incu- 

 bation appear to be very irregular. All accounts agree in 

 assigning a very early period in the year for these occupa- 

 tions ; even while snow remains upon the ground. Conti- 

 nental authors speak of the young being fledged in March ; 

 incubation must therefore have been commenced in Februarv 

 or January ; in higher northern latitudes, a somewhat later 

 period is assigned ; in England the same peculiarity has 

 been observed with regard to the times of breeding. 



The Common Crossbill, although very many years since 

 recorded and considered as a British winter migrant, has not 

 been until lately, in comparison, ascertained to breed in this 



