[Illustration]
Loxia curvirostra, LINNÆUS; Le Beccroisé, BUFFON; Der
Kreuzschnabel, BECHSTEIN.
The length of this bird is nearly seven inches, of which the tail
measures two and a quarter. The beak, which is one inch in length, and
very thick, has its two mandibles curving in opposite directions, and
crossing each other at the points, whence the name. It is no fixed rule
for the upper mandible to cross to the right or left, but its direction
appears to be acquired when young. The shanks, which are eight lines
high, and the beak, are brown; the iris is nut-coloured.
The change of colour, which some assert this bird is subject to three
times a year, simply occurs as follows:--
The young male, which is at first of a greyish brown, with a little
yellow, becomes after moulting entirely red, darker on the upper part of
the body than on the lower, the quill and tail feathers excepted, which
are blackish. This generally happens in April or May. At the second
moulting this red colour becomes a greenish yellow, which is permanent;
so that when red they may be known to be the young male birds, and when
yellow the old ones.
The females are in general grey, with a little green on the head,
breast, and rump, or irregularly speckled with those two colours.
From observations which have been made with great care and exactness,
and which any one can repeat who wishes, it appears proved that an old
male bird never changes its colour. In order to be exact as to these
facts, it is necessary to observe the bird from the time of its leaving
the nest; for, if one were to judge from those taken in a snare, one
would certainly be disposed to think that not one bird resembled
another: but all this variety depends on the different stages in
moulting, which so very much affects the colours of the plumage.
Thus, in old male birds the forehead, cheeks, and eyebrows are spotted
with grey, greenish yellow, and white. Wherever green and yellow are
prevalent, the dark grey shows through, and has the appearance of spots
on those parts, particularly on the back, for the tips alone are green
and yellow.
The result of all this is, that when grey or speckled crossbills are
spoken of, they are the young ones; when red, they have passed their
first moulting; when crimson, they are near their second; and when
spotted, red and yellow, they are two years old, and in full feather. To
judge with exactness, these birds ought to be seen at the time of
laying, but neither this nor the moulting has any fixed season; and this
circumstance sufficiently explains the great variety and difference of
colour which are found among this species.
These details also show that the crossbill is subject to nearly the same
changes of colour as the linnet, and that the red colour which it bears
for the first year is what peculiarly distinguishes it from other birds.
One thing, which is rather remarkable, is, that the young ones reared in
the house never take the red colour, but remain grey for the second
year, or change directly into greenish yellow.
There are two kinds of crossbills, the greater and lesser; but the
difference is not so great as some pretend, and nature is not more
invariable in the size of birds than it is in that of men[29].
HABITATION.--When wild, the crossbill not only inhabits Europe, but
also all the north of Asia and America, everywhere frequenting
forests of pines and firs, where these trees, which are loaded with
cones, furnish abundance of food.
In the house it may be let range at will, but a branch of fir, or any
other tree, must be put near it, on which it can perch or sleep. If
it be kept in a cage it must be made of wire; for, being so much
disposed to peck and nibble, a wicker cage would soon be reduced to
chips.
FOOD.--In its wild state the pine seed is its favourite food; the
shape of its beak is peculiarly adapted for procuring these seeds, by
separating the scales of the cones; it also gathers from the ground
those which have fallen, and it does not neglect those of the fir,
and even of the alder. When these fail it is contented with the buds
of the same trees.
In the house, if it be let run about at liberty, the second universal
paste will be sufficient; but if kept in a cage it must be fed on
hemp, pine, and rape seed, and even elderberries.
BREEDING.--The time of breeding is very remarkable, being generally in
the depth of winter, from December to April. The nest, which is
placed at the top of a pine or fir tree, is first formed of very fine
small twigs, there is then a layer of coarse moss, but the interior
is lined with the finest and softest moss; it is not glued with
resin, as some have said. The young crossbills being in Thuringia the
object of many ridiculous superstitions, the wood-cutters are always
careful of the nests. The number of the eggs varies from three to
five, they are of a greyish white, spotted, speckled, and streaked at
the large end with red brown. The heating nature of their food
enables the young and old birds to bear the severity of the season.
The old birds feed their young with the food disgorged from their own
stomach, as do all the grosbeaks. This species may be reared in the
house on white bread soaked in milk, and mixed with a few
poppy-seeds.
DISEASES.--The accumulated vapour from a room with a stove has such an
effect on the constitution of these birds, that they are almost
always ill[30]. Weak eyes, swelled and ulcerated feet, are very
common occurrences; hence the mountaineers of Thuringia have taken it
into their heads that these poor birds can take upon themselves their
diseases and pains: and it is this foolish idea that induces them
always to keep one of these birds near them. Their superstitious
extravagance carries them so far, that they are persuaded a bird
whose upper mandible bends to the right, has the power of assuming to
itself the colds and rheumatism from men; but when this mandible
turns to the left, the bird renders the same service to the women.
These simple and credulous people imagine that nothing is more
efficacious against epilepsy, than every day to drink the water which
the bird has left, because they see that these unfortunate victims
are often attacked with this disease.
MODE OF TAKING.--With the decoy birds nothing is easier than to take
the crossbills in the autumn and spring: one large rod, covered with
strong bird-lime, is all that is necessary. It must be put in a glade
in the wood which these birds frequent, with the decoy bird by the
side; this, by its continual cry, will soon attract them. In
Thuringia the people put nooses and spring traps on the top of some
of the highest pines, and there hang the cage of the decoy bird; as
soon as one crossbill has settled, the others follow; so that as many
birds are taken as there are traps set, particularly if the stick of
the spring traps be placed so that the bird must perch on it.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The crossbill is rather a silly bird; in the
cage its motions are like those of the parrot; when lively it swings
its body like the siskin, and sings a few sharp strains, which are
more or less monotonous, according to the different powers of the
songsters--for some of the males far surpass the others in this short
melody. It is easily tamed, can be carried about anywhere on the
finger, and will go and return again without wandering.