642 
BIRD-LIFE. 
mother earth. When forced by necessity, they will 
content themselves with other seeds of an oily nature, 
while insects are never rejected. 
Crossbills are most harmless, good-tempered, trustful 
creatures, and only become shy after repeated persecution. 
They will, so to speak, look down the barrel of your gun, 
and not unfrequently, if one bird is shot, its companion 
will still remain quietly perched in the tree, scarcely 
moving sometimes if fired at itself. Sociable, as is 
indeed their nature, they always invite passers by, of 
their own, or allied species, to the feast, or themselves 
accept a like invitation. A single member of the flock 
rarely separates itself from its companions. They are 
very restless birds, especially during thunder-storms, 
when they appear to be unusually excited. A caged 
Crossbill has been known to fall dead from its perch after 
a very heavy clap of thunder. 
Love produces an entire change in their conduct. The 
tender passion is not confined to any particular season of 
the year, but developes itself when food is plentiful, 
whether in spring or autumn, summer or winter. The 
Crossbill frequently sings his love ditty when the rest of 
animated nature is silent, has migrated, or is wrapt in 
winter slumber. The male bird tunes his serenade with 
much fire and energy from the topmost branch of some 
fir-tree: he is very restless, however, and flutters, twit¬ 
tering, to and fro, often singing while on the wing. The 
female surrenders at discretion, after some slight exhi¬ 
bition of coyness on her part; after which she attaches 
herself to her partner, and henceforth clings to him with 
much fidelity and the greatest tenderness. Both birds 
seem to have but one heart, one soul. Now commences 
the labour of building the nest,—a most carefully and 
