2 8o CROSSBILL. Clafs II. 



than that of the common kind, and the ends more 

 blunt. Thefe birds, like the former, are inconftant 

 vifitants of this ifland : in Germany and Switzerland * 

 they inhabite the pine forefts, and breed in thofe trees 

 fo early as the months of January and February, They 

 feed on the feeds of the cones of pines and firs ; and 

 are very dexterous in fcaling them, for which purpofe 

 the crofs ftructure of the lower mandible of their bill 

 is admirably adapted : they feed alfo on hemp feed* 

 and the pips or kernels of apples, and are faid to di- 

 vide an apple with one ftroke of the bill to get at the 

 contents. Linnaus -f- fays, that the upper mandible of 

 this bird is moveable ; but on examination we could 

 not difcover its ftruclure to differ from that of 

 others of the genus. It is an undoubted fact that 

 thefe birds change their colors •, or rather the fhades 

 of their colors : that is, the males which are red, vary 

 at certain feafons to deep red, to orange, or to a fort 

 of a yellow : the females which are green, alter to 

 different varieties of the fame color. 



* Gefner 59. Kramer T.Unch. 365. 

 t Faun. Suec.fp* zi\. 



III. The 



