CROSSBILL. 



Ill 



head and crown white, prettily undulated with black lines ; on the 

 hind head the feathers, are very long- and black, which the bird erects 

 in form of a conic crest ; cheeks dirty white, spotted with black ; a 

 black stroke crosses the cheek under the eye, which turns back in an 

 acute angle under the ear, forming- the letter V ; behind that is a bed 

 of white, surrounding the cheeks, and bounded externally by a black 

 edge, which forms a peak on the hind-head, and also joins the black 

 on the throat and chin ; the back is greenish brown ; breast and belly 

 pale buff ; wings and tail much like the back, but deeper coloured ; 

 legs bluish lead-colour. 



The Crested Tit is a solitary retired species, inhabiting only gloomy 

 forests, particularly those which abound with evergreens. It has 

 not been found in South Britain, but is not uncommon amongst 

 the large tracts of pines in the north of Scotland, particularly in the 

 forest of Glenmoor, the property of the Duke of Gordon, from whence 

 we have seen it. The eggs are said to be white, with small spots of 

 red. * The nest, according to Temminck, is built in the holes of trees 

 or rocks, and sometimes in the deserted nest of the crow or squirrel.* 

 It is said to be found in Normandy, and in many parts between that 

 and Sweden. 



CROCKER.— A name for the Laughing Gull. 



CROOKED BILL.— A name for the Avoset. 



CROSSBILL {Loxia curvirostra, Linnjeus.) 



Loxia curvirostra, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 299. 1. — Gmel. Syst. 1. p. 843. sp. 1. — Lath. 

 Ind. Orn. 1. p. 370. sp. 1. — Cuv. Reg. Anim. 1 p. 391. — Loxia, Raii, Syn. p. 

 86. A. — Will. p. 181. 1.44.— Briss. 3. p. 299. t. 17. f. 3.— Le Bee croise, Buff. 

 Ois. 3. p. 449. t. 27. f. 2. — lb. pi. Enl. 218. — Bee croise commun, ou des Pins, 

 Temm. Man. d'Orn. 1. p. 328. — Fichten Kreuzchnabe, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 3. 

 p. 4. t. 3. f. 1. — Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 1. p. 140. — lb. Vbg. Deut. 1. figures 

 of different ages. — Crossbill, or Sheld Apple, Br. Zool. 1. No. 115. t. 49. — Arct. 

 Zool. 2. No. 208.— Will. (Angl.) p. 248. t. 44.— Lath. Syn. 3. p. 106. 1.— 

 Leioins Br. Birds, 2. t. 66.— Mont. Orn. Diet. l.—Albin, 1. 1. 61,— Wale. Syn. 

 2. t. 205.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 11.— Bewick's Br. Birds, 1. p. t. 130.— Shaw's 

 Zool. 9. p. 231. t. il.—Selby, pi. 53. p. 251* 



This species weighs about an ounce and a half ; length near six 

 inches and a half ; bill strong, both mandibles convex, and crossing 

 each "other at the points, which are hooked ; colour brown ; eyes 

 small ; irides dusky. 



The plumage of the male varies from a beautiful red to orange- 

 colour on the head, neck, breast, back, and rump; the wing coverts 

 rufous-brown ; quills and tail dusky ; vent almost white ; under-tail 

 coverts spotted dusky ; tail forked ; legs short ; claws strong. 



The females also vary somewhat in colour. In general they are 

 of a dull olive-green on those parts where the male is red ; but the 



