144 FR1NGILL1D.E. 



The curious power possessed by these birds, of expanding 

 their beaks laterally, enables them also to obtain the pips 

 of apples, of which they are very fond, by splitting the fruit 

 in halves ; in this manner great mischief is occasionally 

 effected by them in apple orchards, which they sometimes 

 frequent in the southern countries in great numbers. 



It is remarkable that the mandibles do not in every 

 individual cross on the same side ; in some, the upper 

 mandible inclines to the right, in others to the left. In 

 young birds, while in the nest, they are not crossed at all, 

 but are straight as in other birds. 



It is said that the young birds while in the nest, are fed 

 by their parents, with food prepared in their own crops ; it 

 is possible that this may be the case, as the early period 

 at which the young are generally hatched, must render 

 insect food a precarious provision. 



The entire length of the Common Crossbill is about six 

 and a half inches; the length of the wing, from the carpus 

 to the tip, three inches and three quarters. The tail is 

 slightly forked, and its feathers pointed ; the longest extend 

 about nine lines beyond the tips of the closed wings. The 

 legs are short, not exceeding eight or nine -lines in the 

 tarsus, the toes are thick and strong; the claws large, and 

 sharply grooved beneath. The beak, the most remarkable 

 feature in this bird, the form of which is best exemplified 

 by the plate, measures ten lines from the forehead to the 

 tip ; the lower mandible is very thick at the base, measuring 

 nearly six lines from side to side at the commencement of 

 the feathered part ; both mandibles are much compressed 

 laterally towards the tip, and the upper one, which is the 

 longest, terminates in a very sharp point ; the nostrils are 

 covered by small hair-like feathers. 



The rich plumage of this bird varies infinitely ; the wings 

 and tail only preserving the same appearance at most seasons, 



