GROSBEAK. 207 



that of red lead, or rose-colour, varied more or less with brown ; the 

 under parts much paler than the upper, and near the vent almost 

 white; wings and tail brown, the latter a little forked; legs black. 



The female is greenish, mixed with brown, in those parts where 

 the male is red. The young male is at first like the female, gaining 

 the fine red colour by degrees ; but the female has rarely any other 

 tinge than before mentioned, though both sexes vary at different 

 times of the year. 



This is no uncommon species in England, and sometimes comes 

 in prodigious flocks, chiefly visiting places where pines grow, as it 

 feeds on the seeds ; and it is curious to observe with what dexterity it 

 picks them out with the bill ; holding the cone in one foot like a 

 Parrot : the nest composed of dried fibres, mixed with leaves and 

 moss ; the eggs, generally four, yellowish white, tinged with brown, 

 marked with small dull red spots all over, but most numerous at the 

 larger end:* more than a single instance has been known of their 

 building in England ; one was in a row of pines, within two miles 

 of Dartford, in Kent : the nest made on the lowest fork of one of 

 these trees, about the size of a Blackbird's, composed of dry twigs, 

 and of a loose texture, but being too closely watched, and disturbed, 

 no eggs were deposited .f I have also heard of their building in 

 another place of the same county : one shot at Erith, in August 1791, 

 was a female, which was bare of feathers on the breast, as sitting 

 birds usually are; but as authors agree, that this species builds as 

 early as any other bird, it would seem to prove, that it has two 

 broods in a year, for instances might be adduced, of its not un- 

 frequently breeding in this kingdom. 



When kept tame it sings very prettily, like a Bulfinch, but more 

 shrill; some think its note to resemble that of a Virginia Nightingale. J 



* Von Nest und Eyern des Kreuzvogels. — Naturf. ii. 66. (Gunther). A dissertation on 

 the nest and eggs of the Crossbill. 



f In July, 1791, Mr. Lewin shewed me three birds, shot in his garden, near Dartford, 

 viz. an old male and female, and one young bird; three more young birds were still about 

 the garden. + Loxia Cardinalis.— Lin. 



