182 
BEAL'TIFUL BIRDS. 
and tlijn on botli edges, tlie proximal extremity ending 
in two small processes, elongated upwards and back- 
wards above tlie articulation W'itli tlie bone of tlie 
tongue, each process baving inserted upon it a slender 
muscle, extending backward to the glottis, and attacked 
to the os liijoides ; and these muscles, by tbeir con- 
traction, extend and raise the scoop-like point. Uii- 
derneatli the articulation of this horny grooved a]i- 
pendage,” continues ]Mr. Yarrell, “is another small 
muscle, which is attached at ‘one extremitv to the os 
Injoicles, at the other to the moveable piece, and by its 
action, as an antagonist to the upper muscles, bends 
the point downwards and baclcwards ; whilst, there- 
fore, the points of the beak press the sliell from the 
body of the cone, the tongue, brought forward by its 
own muscle {genio Injoideus)^ is enabled, by the addi- 
tional muscles described, to direct and insert its 
cutting scoop beneath the seed, and the food thus dis- 
lodged is transferred to the mouth. AVhen the man- 
dibles are separated laterally in tliis operation, the 
bird has an uninterrupted view of the seed in tlie 
cavity with the eye, on that side to wdiich the under 
mandible is curved.”* 
Two species of Crossbill have been found to resort 
occasionally to this country, the Common Crossbill 
{Ttoxia curmrostra), and the Parrot Crossbill (^C. pine- 
t or will ) . 
Alluding to the former of these birds, Mr. Selby 
says, “ The visits of this curious and interesting species 
to our shores are at irregular periods, sometimes at an 
interval of many years. In the southern parts of the 
* Zool. Journ., v. 4. 
