128 
FRINGILLIN^. LOXIA. 
higher than broad, extremely compressed toward the end, 
the mandibles towards their extremity deflected to opposite 
sides, so as to cross each other ; upper mandible with the 
dorsal line convex and deflected, the sides slightly convex, 
the edges sharp, and towards the end united, the tip ex- 
cessively compressed and decurved ; lower mandible with its 
angle semicircular, the dorsal line ascending and convex, the 
edges sharp, inflected, and approximated at the tip, which 
is extremely acute. Nostrils small, basal, round, covered 
by the short bristly feathers. Head large, broadly ovate ; 
neck short ; body compact. Feet rather short and strong ; 
tarsus short, compressed, with seven scutella ; toes of mo- 
derate size, the first strong, the lateral nearly equal. Claws 
long, arched, very slender, much compressed, tapering to 
a fine point, that of the middle toe nearly as long as that 
of the first. Plumage soft, full, and blended. Two tufts 
of bristly feathers at the base of the upper mandible direct- 
ed forwards. Wings of moderate length, pointed, the outer 
three primaries longest, the first generally exceeding the 
rest. Tail short, distinctly emarginate. Roof of the mouth 
concave, with three ridges, of which the median is much 
smaller ; tongue deeper than broad, at the end oblong, ob- 
tuse, concave above, and horny ; oesophagus dilated into a 
very large crop ; stomach roundish, muscular, with the epi- 
thelium rugous ; intestine of moderate length ; coeca very 
small. 
200. 1. Loxia curvirostra, Linn. Common Crossbill. 
Plate CXCVII. Male, Female, and Yoimg. 
Male dull light red, inclining to vermilion; the wings and tail 
blackish-brown, the feathers narrowly margined with dull red. Fe- 
male with the upper parts greyish-brown, tinged with green, the rump 
dull greenish-yellow, the sides of the head and neck of the same colour 
as the back, the lower parts pale greyish-yellow, brighter on the fore 
part of the breast, wings and tail as in the male, but the feathers 
edged with dull yellowish. Young with the central part of the feathers 
greyish-brown, the edges yellowish-grey, the upper parts thus ap- 
pearing spotted, the lower streaked with dusky. Young males vary 
