PARROT CROSSBILL. 147 



WSESSOJRES. FRINGILLIDJE. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CXVII 



PARROT CROSSBILL. 



LOXIA PYTIOPSITTACUS. 



The northern parts of Europe and America are the na- 

 tive regions of this bird : but whether it is found at the 

 farthest extent of the fir-covered hills of those regions is 

 uncertain. This species is very frequently met with in 

 Russia, Prussia, Poland, and Sweden, in which countries 

 it may be looked upon as indigenous ; but in Holland, 

 France, Switzerland, and Britain, it can only be considered 

 a migratory species, much more rare in its appearance, and 

 much less numerous, than its more common congener last 

 described. 



Forests of pine and other fir-trees are said to be the fa- 

 vourite abode of these Crossbills : they are generally observed 

 to remain in the tops of the trees, seldom descending to the 

 ground except when in search of water to satisfy their thirst. 

 They also roost at night in large companies, in the manner 

 of rooks ; and are said even to return from afar, in order to 

 resort to a favourite spot for that purpose. 



The Parrot Crossbill builds chiefly in lofty forest-trees. 

 Its habits have been observed by Bechstein in Voigt and Os- 

 terland, between the rivers Orla and Roda, where he has 

 frequently met with nests of this species. In 1819, their 

 nests were seen in May and June: in 1821, they had al- 



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