numerously spread over the northern world; from whence they
come towards winter to the British shores, and remain till they
have reared their young. It is sometimes called "the foolish
Guillemot," from its stupidity; for when their companions are
shot one after another, they have so little sense of danger,
that they make a small circuit, and then return and settle in
the same place, to share the same fate.

[14] _Toucan._ A native of America, where it builds in the hollows
of trees, and sits at the entrance, ready to peck at the
monkeys, who often endeavour to destroy and eat the young. It
is about the size of a Magpie, but the head large in
proportion, to enable it to support its immense bill, which is
six inches and one-half in length, but extremely thin. It is a
mild inoffensive bird, and easily tamed, but cannot endure the
cold of our climate. The feathers of the breast are highly
esteemed by the natives.

[15] _Cross-bill._ So called because the two mandibles cross each
other in different directions. They feed chiefly on the seeds
of fir-trees; the singular construction of their bills being
admirably adapted to separate the seeds of the cones. The pips
of apples are also a favourite food, and, to obtain them, they
split the apple with one stroke of their bill; they are
consequently found to be very injurious to orchards. It has
been observed that they have been more frequently seen in
England since the fir-tree has been more generally planted than
formerly.

[16] _Siskin._ A migratory bird, which is seen in the southern parts
of England at the time of the barley harvest, and is sometimes
called the Barley-bird. It has a pleasing note, and is sold as
a singing-bird in the London bird-shops by the name of the
Aberdevine. The accusation of its flirtation with the
Greenfinch is to be understood as pure scandal, the most prying
naturalists never having discovered any particular attachment
between them.

[17] _Razor-bill._ A migratory sea-bird, which visits the northern
shores in spring, and leaves them in winter: they lay a single
egg on the ledges of the rocks without any nest, and on which
it is said to be fixed with a cement.

[18] _Spoon-bill._ So called from the constructi