AMERICAN CROSSBILL. 
287 
^reek, where I have myself killed them at these seasons, 
^hey then appear in large flocks, feeding on the seeds 
"f the hemlock and n-hite pine, have a loud, sharp, and 
'**'t unmusical note ; chatter as they fly ; alight, during 
die prevalence of deep snows, before the door of the 
hunter, and around the house, picking- off the clay with 
'''iiich the logs are plastered, and searching in corners 
''here urine or any substance of a saline ipiality had 
^cn thrown. At such times they are so tame as only 
settle on the roof of the cabin when disturbed, and 
^ moment after descend to feed as before. Tln^y are 
ihen easily caught in traps ; and will frecpxently per- 
"■it one to a]>proa('h so near as to knock them down 
'' ith a stick. Those killed and opened at .such times 
'te generally found to have the stomacdi filled with a 
’'^ft greasy kind of earth or clay. When kept in a 
’^m.'they have manvof the habits of the parrot; often 
'■''imbing along the wires ; and using their feet to grasp 
'he cones in, while taking out the seeds. 
This same species is found in Nova Scotia, and as far 
"orth as Hudson’s Bay, arriving at Severn river about 
^’"5 latter end of May ; and, according to accounts, pro- 
''®eding farther north to breed. It is added by Pennant, 
diat “ they return at the first setting in of frost.” 
Hitherto this bird has, as usual, been considei-cd a 
'Here variety of the European spexnes ; though differing 
[tom it in several resjiects, and being nearly one-third 
""s, and although the singular conformation of the bill 
these birds and their peculiarity of manners are 
"trikingly different from those of the grosbeaks, yet 
^'''tuy disregarding these jdain and obvious discrimina- 
‘'Mions, still continue to consider them as belonging to 
jhe genus loxia; as if the particular structure of the 
“'ll should, in all (lases but this, be the criterion by 
'^hieb to judge of a sjiecies; or ))crha))s conceiving 
meuiselves the wiser of the two, they have thought 
l"'oper to associate together what nature has, in the 
''•ost pointed manner, placed apart. 
I in separating these birds, therefore, from the gros- 
“®“ks, and classing them as a family by themselves. 
