38 AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 



lively observing the use to which it is applied by the owner, 

 and the dexterity with which he detaches the seeds of the pine 

 tree from the cone, and from the husks that enclose them, we 



rostra and Gurvirostra, have also been formed for it from the shape of 

 the bill; but ought to be rejected, from the priority of the former. They 

 are a very limited group, being composed of at most four species, pro- 

 vided that of America be proved distinct, or one differing from those of 

 Europe be found in the former continent. Their distribution appears 

 to extend pretty generally over the north of Europe, decreasing in num- 

 bers to the south, and over North America. In form, all the members 

 are similar. They are endowed with considerable power of flight ; are 

 of a thick, stout make, and in addition to the curiously formed bill, 

 possess scansorial habits, usiug their bills and feet to disengage the seeds 

 from the fir cones, when in confinement, holding their food like a parrot 

 in the latter member, and by the same means climbing about the wires 

 of the cage. 



Regarding the identity of our author's species with that of this coun- 

 try, I am uncertain, not having a specimen of the bird from America. 

 Wilson thinks it distinct, and I have been told the same thing by Audu- 

 bon. On the other hand, we have the authority of Bonaparte, who thus 

 writes in his Observations on JVilson's Nomenclature : — " I think Wilson 

 was in error when he considered this bird a new species, and stated that 

 it differs considerably from the European. He probably compared it 

 with the L. pytiopsittacus, and not with the curvirostra, with which latter 

 it is identical. Wilson's new names must therefore be rejected, and the 

 name of Loxia curvirostra must be restored to this bird." Our author 

 was also incorrect in remarking, that " the young males, as is usual 

 Avith most other birds, very much resemble the female." The fact is, 

 that the young of all the crossbills, as well as that of Pyrrhula enucleator, 

 contrary to the habit of the generality of birds, lose their red colour as 

 they advance in age, instead of gaining an additional brilliancy of plum- 

 age. The figure which our author gives as that of an adult male, repre- 

 sents a young bird of about one year, and his supposed female is a 

 remarkably fine adult male. 



The species of this group, then, are, — L. pytiopsittacus, or parrot-billed 

 crossbill of Europe, and which Bonaparte also hints the possibility of 

 finding in America, a circumstance I should think very likely, — the L. 

 leucoptera, and the L. curvirostra ; but I fear we must remain uncertain 

 whether the last constitutes one or two, until the examination of nume- 

 rous specimens from both countries decide the point. The haunts of our 

 common species in Europe are the immense northern pine forests, where 

 their chief food is the seeds of the fir cones ; from thence, after breeding, 

 they appear to migrate to various parts southward, in comparatively 



