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ALLEN'S NATURALIST’S LIBRARY. 
are known, the most familiar to English ornithologists being the 
so-called “ Parrot ” Crossbill ( Loxia pytiopsittacus), which has a 
much larger bill than the ordinary species, and is an inhabitant 
chiefly of Northern Europe, whence it ranges occasionally into 
the British Islands. In the Himalayas the race of the Cross- 
bill known as Loxia himalayana is very small, and many 
ornithologists consider the American Crossbill to be separable 
as a race. As stated in the “Catalogue of Birds,” we have 
not been able to recognise the differences of these various 
races. 
Habits.— In winter, when the Crossbill is generally met with 
in the southern counties of England, it is gregarious, going 
about in small flocks or in parties. It is a bird of irregular 
migration, and its movements within the confines of the 
British Islands are also irregular. During the nesting season 
it is decidedly shy, but in winter is very tame, and it can 
be observed from a very short distance. The food in sum- 
mer consists largely of insects, on which the young are 
principally reared. The Crossbills feed also on the seeds 
of the pines, which they extract very dexterously from the 
cones, as well as on berries. The ordinary Crossbill de- 
vours the seeds of the larch and spruce-firs, but the large 
race, the so-called “ Parrot ” Crossbill, is said by Mr. See- 
bohm to find its principal food in the seeds of the Scotch 
fir, which its powerful bill enables it to extract from the 
larger cones of that tree. The Crossbill is a very early 
breeder. 
Nest.— Cup-shaped, and generally placed in a fir-tree, often 
at a considerable height from the ground. It is composed of 
grass and moss, with a little wool and a few feathers in the 
lining ; outside the nest is composed of twigs, and in general 
appearance is like that of the Bullfinch. 
Eggs. — Four to five. Ground-colour varying from stone- 
colour or creamy-white or pale bluish, with the usual reddish 
spots and darker purplish-brown overlying spots and scrib- 
blings. The spots are distributed over the whole surface 
of the eggs, but when strongly marked, they are collected 
round the larger end of the egg. Axis, o'8-o'9 inch; diam., 
