638 
BIRD-LIFE. 
we possess four species, three of which (G. pinetorum , 
bifasciata , and rubrifasciata ), though differing so little 
from one another, are yet so distinct from the fourth 
that I have elected to describe it in this chapter. All 
Crossbills are easily recognizable, and their name denotes 
the great peculiarity by which they are distinguished, 
namely, the beak, the ends of which cross one another, 
so that the point of the inferior mandible turns upwards, 
and that of the superior one downwards, this position 
occurs sometimes on the left, and sometimes on the 
right side, without the chance difference forming any 
ground upon which to base a species. The size and 
strength of the beak is also no criterion as to species, for 
they are to be met with of all proportions,—thick and thin, 
long and short. The only points now left upon which to 
determine the different species are the size and colouring 
of the bird. The Parrot Crossbill, which we are now 
about to describe, is the largest and strongest of the four 
species, and is on this account the most remarkable; it 
is the only one which possesses strength enough to break 
open the pine-cones,—hence its name. Besides this, this 
species, as well as the remaining three, are known by 
other names, such as “Pine Parrot,’' “ Cone-biter,” 
“ Winter-, Christ-, and Cross-birds:” the common 
name, however, is Crossbill. The colour of the male is a 
currant-red; on the wings, darker and more grayish; 
and on the rump, lighter. The female is greenish gray, 
with the same modifications of shading. The plumage of 
the young male partakes somewhat of the character of 
both old birds. The length of the bird is eight, and the 
expanse of wing fourteen, inches. 
My father used to call the Crossbill the “ Gfipsey- 
bird,”—a happy cognomen,—for, like that singular race, 
