CROSSBILL, the common name of a genus (Loxia) of the finch family (Fringillidae), remarkable in that the upper and lower sheaths of the bill cross one another obliquely. This is cor related with the bird's habit of feeding on pine seeds, the formation of the bill enabling it to hold apart the scales while extracting the seed with its tongue. (See Yarrell, Zool. Journ., iv. pp. Pl. xiv., figs. 91-7.) The common crossbill (L. curvirostra) is about the size of a skylark, but more stoutly built. The plumage of the adult cock is a rich crim son, with patches of .flame-colour ; these are replaced in captivity by dull orange or bright golden yellow. The female is yellowish green; the young, before the first moult, a dull olive. Cross bills live in small flocks and are great wanderers. The nest is rudely constructed and the eggs resemble those of the greenfinch, but are larger. This species is dis tributed throughout Europe and Northern Asia and in the woods of the Atlas. The larger parrot crossbill (L. pityopsittacus) in- I habits Scandinavia. Two species are found in America; L. curvi rostra minor differs from the British species in its smaller bill; the second form, L. leucoptera, is smaller, rose-coloured, and with white wing-bars.
An ancient missile-throwing weapon consist ing of a bow fixed transversely upon a stock that contains a groove to guide the missile, a notch to hold the string of the bow, and a trigger to release it. There were several varieties of cross-bows, viz.--goat's-foot, windlass, catch, German, cross-bow galet, ramrod, the Chinese and the arbalest, which usually fired quarrels or square-headed bolts, and was so stiff that a mechanical contrivance was required to bend it. Those of the cavalry were lighter than those of the infantry.