Habits arid personal Characteristics of the Crossbill. 413 



said I. "Why, Sir," replied he, "we all know too well 

 what she can do. She has long owed me a grudge ; and my 

 cow which was in very good health, fell sick immediately after 

 Sally had been seen to look in at the door of the cow-house, 

 just as night was coming on. The cow grew worse and 

 worse; and so I went and cut a bundle of wiggin (mountain 

 ash), and I nailed the branches all up and down the cow-house; 

 and, Sir, you may see them there if you will take the trouble 

 to step in. I am a match for old Sally now, and she can't do 

 me any more harm, so long as the wiggin branches hang in 

 the place where I have nailed them. My poor cow will get 

 well in spite of her." Alas ! thought I to myself, as the de- 

 luded man was finishing his story, how much there is yet to 

 be done in our part of the country by the schoolmaster of the 

 nineteenth century ! 



Walton Hall, May 21. 1836. 



Art. III. Facts on the Habits and personal Characteristics of the 

 Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra Temm.). By the Rev. F. O. Mor- 

 ris, B.A. 



Crossbills have made their appearance, this winter [1835- 

 36.], in the neighbourhood of Doncaster ; and, as their 

 visits are so " few and far between," and their movements so 

 very uncertain ; and, as I believe that they are but very par- 

 tially distributed over the country, even when they do come, 

 the few observations that I have been able to make upon 

 them may not be unacceptable to some of your readers. 



They had appeared in most of the fir plantations in this 

 neighbourhood, and many specimens had been brought to 

 Mr. Reid of this town for preservation; but, though I had seen 

 many in a dead state, and had repeatedly looked for living 

 ones in my walks, I was not so fortunate as to meet with any 

 until January 25. 1836. I had heard, about a week before 

 this date, that a flock had been seen at Kirk Sandal, about 

 five miles from here, and some individuals of them shot, 

 which, indeed, I had seen myself; and on Jan. 25. I set out 

 in quest of the living ones, and proceeded to the hospitable 

 house of George Martin, Esq. He was out shooting when I 

 arrived there, and gave me one of the birds I had come in 

 search of, which he had just killed. He therefore knew 

 exactly where to find them, and soon conducted me to the 

 place. In a few minutes I had the great pleasure of hearing 

 the note of this unusual visitant, which I had never heard 

 before, having never previously been near the bird alive. I 



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