t 



46 AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 



ciate together what Nature has, in the most pointed manner, placed 

 apart. 



In separating these birds, therefore, from the Grosbeaks, and 

 classing them as a family by themselves, substituting the specific 

 for the generic appellation, I have only followed the steps and dic- 

 tates of that great Original, whose arrangements ought never to be 

 disregarded by any who would faithfully copy her. 



The Crossbills are subject to considerable changes of color; 

 the young males of the present species being, during the first sea- 

 son, olive yellow mixed with ash; then bright greenish yellow in- 

 termixed with spots of dusky olive; all of which yellow plumage 

 becomes, in the second year, of a light red, having the edges of the 

 tail inclining to yellow. When confined in a cage they usually lose 

 the red color at the first moulting, that tint changing to a brown- 

 ish yellow, which remains permanent. The same circumstance 

 happens to the Purple Finch and Pine Grosbeak, both of which, 

 when in confinement, exchange their brilliant crimson for a mot- 

 ley garb of light brownish yellow; as I have had frequent oppor- 

 tunities of observing. 



The male of this species, when in perfect plumage, is five 

 inches and three quarters long, and nine inches in extent ; the bill 

 is a brown horn color, sharp, and single edged towards the extre- 

 mity, where the mandibles cross each other; the general color of 

 the plumage is a red-lead color, brightest on the rump, generally 

 intermixed on the other parts with touches of olive ; wings and tail 

 brown black, the latter forked, and edged with yellow; legs and 

 feet brown ; claws large, much curved, and very sharp ; vent white, 

 streaked with dark ash; base of the bill covered with recumbent 

 down, of a pale brown color; eye hazel. 



The female is rather less than the male; the bill of a paler 

 horn color ; rump, tail coverts and edges of the tail golden yellow ; 

 wings and tail dull brownish black; the rest of the plumage olive 

 yellow mixed with ash ; legs and feet as in the male. The young 



