peculiarity may be deferred until the changes which the
Crossbills undergo are considered. Here it is only needful
to observe that, though the cock Pine-Grosbeak has
undoubtedly been found breeding with his glowing crimson
suit undeveloped, there is no trustworthy evidence that this
brilliant plumage is a mark of mere adolescence, from which
he with age retrogrades into a less gaudy dress.
For the reason already assigned this species has been here
left in the genus Pyrrhula. But most modern authors remove
it therefrom, and, if their example be followed, the
generic term Pinicola, instituted by Yieillot in 1807, should
most likely be used for it. The preceding species is also
commonly separated from Pyrrhula, under the generic
name Carpodacus applied to it by Kaup in 1829. It is
here placed in Pyrrhula since it manifestly differs less from
the Bullfinch than the Pine-Grosbeak does.
The vignette represents what is happily no longer to be
seen in this country. It is much to be wished that prohibition
could be extended to all cases of the misapplication of
the powers of animals, including the education of “ piping”
Bullfinches.
Loxia c u rv ir o st ra , Linnaeus.*
THE CROSSBILL.
Loxia curvirostra.
Loxia, Linnceusf.—Bill hard, strong, thick at the base, much compressed
towards the tip, the lower mandible curving upwards and its point crossing that
of the upper mandible. Nostrils round, basal, supernal, hidden by thick projecting
bristly plumes. Wings long, pointed ; the first primary very small, the
* Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 299 (1766). f Loc. cit,