PAKROT CROSSBILL. 149 



and that the plumage chiefly composed of green and grey 

 belongs to the female, from which the young birds of the 

 year may be distinguished by their striated appearance, as 

 well as by immaturity in the texture of their feathers. 



Our plate represents, according to this supposition, a male 

 bird of about two years old, whose next change will probably 

 mature his plumage, so as to resemble the colouring of the 

 lower bird in the plate of the Common Crossbill. In the 

 Parrot Crossbill, as well as in the former species, the wings 

 and tail are dusky, bordered after the autumnal moult with 

 green, yellow, orange, or red, according to the age of the 

 individual ; these colours agreeing with the prevailing colour 

 of the back and scapulars. 



These birds moult in September, October, or November. 

 The young of the year moult about six weeks after their first 

 flight. In confinement the adult males lose their red plumage 

 in moulting, and become orange or yellow. 



The entire length of this species is seven inches and a 

 quarter. The wing measures from the carpus to the tip four 

 inches ; and the tail, which is forked, extends one inch be- 

 yond the tips of the closed wings. The legs are short and 

 stout. The beak measures nine lines from the forehead to 

 the tip, and seven or eight lines in depth. The eyes are 

 small and brilliant, in colour hazel. The colour of the beak 

 is dusky grey, yellowish at the base of the lower mandible ; 

 the inside of the mouth flesh-red. The legs are brownish 

 flesh-colour. 



