. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. CROSSBILLS. 515 larvae of the Q5stri; thej^ feed also upon tie wood-bug and locusts : hence they are likewise called Locust Hunters. They generally unite in small flocks of six or eight. They are very wild, and take flight with a sharp cry of alarm on any one approaching their haunts. Among the congeners of the Beef-eater may be placed the CoLius (Briss. and Linn.), which, like that bird, is an inhabitant of Africa. They are small, about the
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders : with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . Birds; Reptiles. CROSSBILLS. 515 larvae of the Q5stri; thej^ feed also upon tie wood-bug and locusts : hence they are likewise called Locust Hunters. They generally unite in small flocks of six or eight. They are very wild, and take flight with a sharp cry of alarm on any one approaching their haunts. Among the congeners of the Beef-eater may be placed the CoLius (Briss. and Linn.), which, like that bird, is an inhabitant of Africa. They are small, about the size and shape of the Yellow-hammer, and have a tuft on the head. They live in flocks of from twelve to twenty, which nest in common, and feed on fruit and yotmg birds. According to Levaillant, they creep on the branches of trees, with the head downwards ; and, strange to say, even sleep in this peculiar i30sition, pressing one against the other. Their flesh is said to be very Fig. 224.—Crossbills [Loxia cttrvirostra, Linn The Crossbills (Loxiadce) are remarkable for the form of their bill, the mandibles being compressed and recurved, crossing each other in contrary directions, the terminations being hooked, forming an instrument admirably adapted for dividing the scales of fir-cones so as to disclose the germs, which are favourite portions of their food. They are sometimes found near orchards, feeding T. T 9. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894; Gillmore, Parker. New York : D. Appleton
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectrep
