56 Short Communications : — 



part of last winter, a small flock took up their abode in some 

 plantations near Ipswich ; and, in the beginning of September 

 of the present year, several specimens were seen, and one 

 killed evidently in nestling plumage much resembling in mark- 

 ings the young greenfinch. 



When every part of our islands shall have been visited by 

 naturalists with ears alive to every note, and eyes that mark 

 the species by the passing glance, at rest or in the distant 

 flight, then may we expect to hear of different localities, where 

 the crossbill may occasionally breed ; which may probably be 

 in some of our mountainous districts ; more especially as the 

 sides of the hills, in many parts of the empire, are now 

 covered with rising woods of larch and other species of the 

 pine tribe. — J. Z). Hoi/. November 28. and Dec, 4. J 833. 



Notices of the occurrence of the crossbill will be found in 

 1,394,395.; 11.89.268.; III. 176.; IV. 163. 449.; \,555,; 

 VI. 112. In some of these places, facts are added on the 

 food and manners of this species. From these, and the pre- 

 sent one by Mr. Hoy, it seems that, although the crossbill may 

 prefer the seeds of the common larch for its food, it will, in 

 the absence of these, partake of the seeds of any species of 

 pine, fir, or larch ; and, it is highly probable, of the seeds 

 of any plant included in the natural order ^bietinae. Mr. 

 Yarrell has, in the Zoological Journal, iv. 459. to 465., de- 

 scribed, and illustrated by seven coloured figures, the struc- 

 ture of the crossbill's beak, and the form, office, and relative 

 action of each of the bones and muscles which subserve the 

 bird's act of extracting and taking its food. Mr. Yarrell has 

 quoted Mr. Townson for some facts on habits. From both 

 authors we have learned as follows : — The structure of the 

 beak in the two British species of crossbill, and in these alone 

 of all British birds, is such as supplies a capability of lateral 

 motion, and of a surprising degree of power in a lateral direc- 

 tion. These avail the bird in the acquisition of food, thus. 

 It first fixes itself across the cone, and then brings the points 

 of its mandibles from their crossed or lateral position, so that 

 they are immediately over each other. The bird then in- 

 sinuates its beak, thus reduced in compass, between the 

 scales of the cone, and then opening its mandibles, not in the 

 manner of birds of other species, but by drawing the lower 

 mandible sidewise, it forces the scales asunder. It now 

 applies its tongue, which has at the extremity a peculiar ap- 

 pendage resembling a cutting scoop ; this is inserted under- 

 neath the seed, which, by it, is dislodged and conveyed to the 

 mouth. — J, D, 



The Plectrophanes lapponica (VI. 482. 486.) has been cap- 

 tured, along with Larks, near Preston, Lancashire. — As Mr. 



