126 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
the mandibles of the bill cross over in different 
directions at the end, instead of meeting evenly, 
like those of other birds. This is a remarkable 
adaptation of nature for enabling the bird to twist 
out the separate scales of a fir-cone, and to secure 
the seed which lies at the root of each. The seeds 
of fir or larch-cones are accordingly the chief 
food of the species, which is generally to be met 
with in fir-woods, or fir-trees in parks and gardens ; 
but it will also eat haws and wild berries, like 
some of the other Finches, and the young are fed 
mainly on caterpillars and soft insects. The 
Crossbill is not a very rare visitor in winter-time, 
being generally seen in fair-sized parties, or large 
flocks ; in some years it is fairly common, and 
in others scarce, as is the case with many kinds of 
birds which come to us in winter from Northern 
Europe. It is not confined, however, to the 
northern part of the Continent, but is found in 
most districts where pine forests are common. It 
nests with some frequency in the extreme north of 
England, and in Scotland, and more rarely and 
irregularly further south, always choosing a fir, or 
some similar cone-bearing tree. The nest is built 
extremely early in the season, often even in 
February, and is built of twigs beneath, and moss, 
wool and hair above, lined with finer materials of 
the same kind. The four or five eggs are much 
