tively ? And why does not the allied Strodilophaga enucleator vary in like tev 8 I have seen many Parrot
Crossbills, and consider them to be better distinguished from ive CO than are the greater and
smaller European Bullfinches of the French, the former of which is the true Loaia pyxrhula of Linneeus, and
the latter, of course, the Pyrrhula vulgaris of Ray.” To these remarks of ae Blyth I may add that the
Parrot Crossbill differs far more widely from the common species than that ore does from any of the smaller
members of the genus, even from ZL. mexicana. Independently of its larger Se much thicker, shorter,
and deeper bill, it never, in my opinion, assumes so deep a red colouring as — CUE Mr. Wheelwright
has also suggested that in some instances the male assumes the red plumage immediately alter the first moult,
without any intermediate yellow livery; and this suggestion is partly confirmed by the condition ore specimen
in its striped dress, now before me, and shot, in the end of July 1860, in Wermland. Io this example,
the red feathers are appearing both on the cheeks and on the upper part of the back; and if there be any
value in the law of representation, I may state that I have seen similarly coloured specimens of LZ. mexicana.
In the British Islands the Parrot Crossbill has never been known to breed ; and its occurrence among’ us
is so unfrequent and uncertain that it may be regarded, not only as one of our rarest birds, but as one which
we cannot look for with the certainty of finding it. If the forests bordering the Spey and the Dee be dili-
gently searched, the chances are that the common species may be observed ; but years may elapse before a
Parrot Crossbill would be met with. Still there are too many instances of its occurrence on record for me
to enumerate half of them in the present work. Pennant first brought the bird under the notice of
English ornithologists, two specimens having been sent to him from Shropshire about 1776; since that
time, I believe, it has only been found once in Ireland and twice in Scotland: on the other hand, many
instances of its occurrence in England are on record ; and perhaps greater numbers have been obtained
within fifty miles of the metropolis than elsewhere. Dr. Bree states that three specimens, obtained near
Colchester, were brought to him in the flesh, on the 21st of February 1862 ; and Mr. Bond has received
recently killed specimens within the last year or two. Mr. Alfred Newton has recorded, in the ‘ Zoologist’
for 1851, the occurrence of a specimen of this bird near Riddlesworth Hall, in Norfolk, several years previously.
He also mentions that he had obtained another, shot at Saxham, in Suffolk, in November 1850. From him
I further learn that during the past winter (1863-64) several have been killed near Brandon, on the
borders of these two counties, a couple of which, both males, are in the possession of E. C. Newcome, Esq.
On the Continent, as in England, this species is far from being abundant. The countries in which it
is most frequently found are Germany, Russia, Sweden, and Norway. Its extreme northern range does
not seem to be known with accuracy ; but Mr. A. Newton tells me he has received a single nest from Kyré,
on the Kemi River, in Lapland, about lat. 68°. It has also been taken in Holland, Belgium, and France ;
but in those countries, as in Britain, it must be regarded as an accidental visitor.

With respect to its nidification, Mr. Wheelwright, who has observed it in Sweden, states that “the nests of
both the Common and Parrot Crossbills are almost invariably placed in

a small pine, near the top, close to
the stem, never in a deep forest, but always on a stony rise, where

the pines are small and wide apart.
The Parrot Crossbill generally goes to nest a little later than the Common one. By the middle or end of

April the young birds are strong fliers, and we never find a nest with eges after that month. The nests of
both species are very much alike ; but that of the Parrot Crossbill is thicker and larger than the other; it
is built outwardly of dry sticks and with moss of two kinds, and lined with shreds of the inner bark of the
fir tree, with here and there a feather or two. The eggs of the Parrot Crossbill are often scarcely larger
than those of the Common species; but they are usually shorter, and their markings are of a bolder character.
Their full number appears to be three ; for we very rarely find four in a nest.” They are greenish ash-
colour, stained with spots of a pinkish hue, amidst which are a few others of dark umber-brown.

I am indebted to Dr. Bree for the loan of the three specimens killed near Colchester : they differ from all
others I have seen—in the females being of a more sordid or dark greenish olive—and particularly from the

one figured on the accompanying Plate; the male is also less brilliantly coloured, the feathers being dull
red, intermingled with which are patches of sordid yellow.

The young very closely resemble the young of the
When they are able to leave the nest and sit upon
are of a purplish flesh-colour ; the feathers
down the centre, and have greyish m
with yellow; the incipient prim

Those who may wish for

Common Crossbill, figured on my Plate of that species.
a branch, the mandibles are just beginning to cross, and

of both the upper and under surface are striated with brown
argins, except those of the breast, back

aries are dark brown, slightly margined with
a minute anatomical description of the rem
consult with advantage the interesting paper on that of the Common species, with woodcut illustrations,
given by Mr. Yarrell, and which is equally applicable to all the members of the genus.

It will have been understood from the description of the changes of plumage given above, that the female

is dressed in grey and dull y i i :
grey yellow, while the male IS more or less orange-red, according to age and
circumstances.

, and rump, which are washed
tawny.

arkable bills of these birds may

The Plate represents the two sexes, of the size of life.