Abstract
The author made a close observation on the mechanism of the bill and the tongue in captive Crossbills, Loxia curvirostra japonica Ridgway. The bill helps the feet in their climing and acrobatic behavior on the branch. To eat pine-cone seeds, the bill half-opened to be not crossed, and they insert it between the scales, closing it to be crossed to push asaid them. The movement of the tongue was also examined closely. It is put out very fast (about 5 times a second) and is pulled back with a pine-cone seed between the 'tip-tongue' and the 'root', i. e. at the notched end of the former; and the 'wing' of the seed is held sideway to be cut off by the bill. The author also reports of their 'hanging-sleep' under pine-tree branch in wild and captive birds.
