112 



CROSSBILL. 



feathers on the back are mottled with dusky ; the wings and tail 

 similar to that of the male, but not so dark. We have observed that 

 the crossing of the mandibles is not constantly on the same side. 



The Crossbill is not known to breed with us, but is more or less 

 found, amongst our fir plantations, from June to the latter end of the 

 year, feeding on the seed, by dexterously dividing the scales of the 

 cone, for which purpose the bill is admirably adapted. It is sometimes 

 found in our orchards in autumn, and will readily divide an apple to 

 get at the kernels. In the year 1791 we were informed, by a bird- 

 catcher at Bath, that he had taken a hundred pairs in the months of 

 June and July : the greater part were males, which were generally 

 sold for five shillings each. Many are taken with a call-bird and bird- 

 lime ; others are caught by a horse-hair noose fixed to a long fishing- 

 rod. So intent are these birds when picking out the seeds of the cone, 

 that they will suffer themselves to be taken by the noose being put 

 over the head. They are discovered by the twittering noise they make 

 while feeding. 



*" The visits," says Selby, "of this curious and interesting species 

 to our shores, are at irregular periods, sometimes at an interval of 

 many years. During the summer of 1821 this kingdom was visited 

 by immense flocks of these birds, that spread themselves through the 

 country, and were to be seen in all woods and plantations where the 

 fir-tree was abundant. Their first appearance was early in June, and 

 the greater part of the flocks seemed to consist of females, and the 

 young of the year, (the males possessing the red plumage, assumed 

 from the first moult to the end of that year.) Many of the females 

 that I killed shewed plainly, from the denuded state of their breasts, 

 that they had been engaged in incubation some time previous to their 

 arrival : which circumstance agrees with the account given of the early 

 period at which they breed in the higher latitudes. They continued 

 with us till towards the autumn, but kept moving northward, as I 

 found them, in September, particularly abundant in all the fir tracts 

 of Scotland, after they had nearly disappeared to the southward of the 

 river Tweed. Since that time we seem not to have been visited by 

 these birds ; at least none have come under my observation. In the 

 southern parts of the kingdom, during their occasional visits, they 

 commit great havoc in the apple and pear orchards, by splitting the 

 fruit in halves for the sake of the inclosed pips." 



" That rare bird, the Crossbill," says Mr. Knapp, " occasionally 

 visits the orchards in our neighbourhood, coming in little parties to 

 feed on the seeds of the apple, and, seldom as it appears, it is always 



