COMMON CROSSBILL. 
341 
the present date, (July 30, 1839;) notwithstand- 
ing, we have been unable to discover the nest, or 
any traces of their having built. During winter, 
the flock kept together, but after spring they have 
been seen in pairs or small parties, and it is pos- 
sible that some of the older pine woods, from 
twelve to fifteen miles distant, may have furnished 
breeding stations, though as yet we have been 
unable to ascertain this. These birds, during the 
winter, kept together, and were generally dis- 
covered when looked for by their noisy notes 
when passing from one plantation to another, or 
removing short distances in search of cone-bear- 
ing trees. When the flight was made to any 
distance, the birds rose to a considerable height, 
and flew with a very powerful rather undulating 
motion, uttering as they flew a continued single 
sharp call-note. On alighting they become silent, 
at once commencing to attack the fir cones, and 
only uttered their notes when disturbed, or on 
removing to another station. The spruce fir was 
chiefly frequented, and trees with a large crop of 
cones presented a very interesting sight when the 
flock was engaged upon them. The feet and bill 
being both powerful, are used as scansorial and 
prehensile members, and they would climb and 
hang about the cones and branches in all the 
attitudes, and with all the agility and security of 
a parrot, and they possess sufficient strength 
to enable them at times to fly off with the cone 
of a spruce fir to an adjacent tree. The cones 
are split or cut up one or both sides longitudi- 
