186 



Genus XIII.— LOXIA, Linn. CROSSBILL. 



Bill rather long, stout at the base, where it is much higher than broad, 

 extremely compressed toward the end, the mandibles towards their extremity 

 deflected to opposite sides, so as to cross each other; upper mandible with 

 the dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, the edges 

 sharp, and towards the end united, the tip excessively compressed and 

 decurved; lower mandible with its angle semicircular, the dorsal line 

 ascending and convex, the edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the 

 tip, which is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered by the 

 short bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate; neck short; body com- 

 pact. Feet rather short and strong; tarsus short, compressed, with seven 

 scutella; toes of moderate size, the first strong, the lateral nearly equal. 

 Claws long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to a fine point; 

 that of the middle toe nearly as long as that of the first. Plumage soft, full, 

 and blended. Two tufts of bristly feathers at the base of the upper man- 

 dible directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer three 

 primaries longest, the first generally exceeding the rest. Tail short, dis- 

 tinctly emarginate. Roof of the mouth concave, with three ridges, of which 

 the median is much smaller; tongue deeper than broad, at the end oblong, 

 obtuse, concave above, and horny; oesophagus dilated into a very large crop; 

 stomach roundish, muscular, with the epithelium rugous; intestine of mode- 

 rate length; coeca very small. 



THE COMMON CROSSBILL. 



Loxia curvirostra, Linn. 



PLATE CC. — Male, Female, and Young. 



This species I have found more abundant in Maine, and in the British 

 provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, than any where else. 

 Although I have met with it as early as the month of August in the Great 

 Pine Forest of Pennsylvania, I have never seen its nest. Many persons in 



