( JS) 



/,/, The Croft-Bill. Loxia. 



Numb. LXL 



IT S Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail is fix Inches and 

 three Quarters ; it weighs one Ounce and a half; its Bill is thick, hard, ftrong^ 

 black, and contrary to the Manner of all other Birds, crooked both ways, the Man- 

 dibles croffing one another : The lower turns upwards, and the upper bends down- 

 wards, but not in all Birds alike ; for in fome Birds the upper Chap hangs down on the 

 Right Side, the nether rifes up on the left, and in others contrariwife ; the Noftrils 

 are round; the Ears great and wide; the Irides of the Eye yellow, and fometimes in- 

 clining to a Hazel Colour ; the Feet are of a dusky Flefh Colour, and the Claws black : The 

 lowelt Joint of the outermoft Toe flicks to that of the middlemoft. 



The middle Part of the Back, and lower Part of the Belly, are brown, intermixed 

 with other Colours ; the Chin and Breaft are ycUowifh, and the Head and Sides of 

 the Neck are redifh intermixed with brown and other Colours. Thefe Birds vary in 

 their Colours ; for in fome the Top of the Head and middle of the Back the Fea- 

 thers are black, and the Edges green ; in the Head there is fomething of cinereous 

 mixed with other Colours ; the Rump green, and the Chin afh coloured ; the Breaft 

 green, and the Belly white ; only under the Tail the middle Parts of the Feathers are 

 black or dufky. Some fay they change their Colour three Times a Year. The Num- 

 ber of quill Feathers are eighteen, of a dark brown, only the outer Edges of the fore- 

 moft are green; the Tail is made up of twelve Feathers, two Inches and a Quarter 

 Jong, dark brown, with green Edges, The Guts have many fpiral Convolutions, and 

 the blind Guts are very fhort. 



It is a moft voracious Bird ; it is much delighted, and feeds very fat with Hempfeed j. 

 5t alfo loves Pine and Fir Kernels, and in the Months of January and February builds 

 its Neft in thofe Trees. They fay, that with one Stroke of its Bill it will divide an 

 .Apple in Halves, that it may feed on the Kernels, by that means doing a great deal 

 of Mifchief in Orchards. 



In fome Parts of Germany, Bavaria, Suevia and Noricum, they are found in great 

 Numbers all the Year. Sometimes they come over to us, and in the Weftern Parts 

 of England, efpecially in Worcejlerjhire, make bad Work, fpoiling a great deal of Fruit 

 in our Orchards. 



Aldro-vandus faith they fing in the Winter, and are filent in the Summer when other 

 Birds fing, having a melodious Voice. 



The 



