ON THE TIABITS OF THE COMMON CROSSBILL. OO 



the Rook, and the ultimate local distribution of the many thousand young 

 birds, which dp, as I believe, annually leave the northern parts of Lincolnshire. 



Medory, West-Rasen, Lincolnshire, March IQth., 1851. 



ON THE HABITS OF THE COMMON CROSSBILL, 

 {LOXIA GURVIROSTRA.) 



BY MR. ARTHUR HALL SHUM. 



The Crossbill is an occasional, though a very irregular visitor, in this part 

 of the countryj arriving about the beginning of October. In the year 1849, 

 a considerable number made their appearance, and took up their quarters in 

 a fir plantation, near this city. They remained about seven weeks, and then 

 took their departure; not however till their ranks had been much thinned 

 by the bird-catching fraternity; their capture being easily effected with the aid 

 of a call-bird. If, however, the bird-catcher does not possess a call-bird, he 

 stations himself beneath the trees that the Crossbills are feeding on, just at 

 day-break, armed with a long slender stick, similar to a fishing-rod, and covered 

 at the top with birdlime. By imitating their call-note, the poor birds are 

 allured within reach of the magic wand; which renders their wings powerless, 

 *and they fall to the ground in their endeavours to escape. 



Last autumn, a very small flock arrived about the usual time, but remained 

 only for a few days: a pair of these that were then caught, I have since kept 

 caged. For the first few days, they shewed their dislike to this change of life, 

 in a manner not to be mistaken — beating their wings against the wires of the 

 cage, and splitting the perches into fragments. They soon, however, began to 

 appreciate a little kind treatment, and by a plentiful supply of hemp seed, (of 

 which they are very fond,) together with their natural food, the cones of the 

 fir tree, they became very tame and affectionate; so much so, that they will 

 now feed readily from the hand, and are pleased at being noticed. For the 

 common deal perches, I substituted rosewood ones, which even the powerful 

 beak of the Crossbill has no effect upon. About the middle of January they 

 commenced their song, which is very pleasing, consisting of some half-a-dozen 

 notes, sung in a subdued manner, very similar to the recording of young 

 Skylarks. When not feeding, they amuse themselves the whole of the day 

 with singing, and climbing about the cage, in the manner of Parrots. Both 

 the male and female sing. 



Bath, March 15th., 1851. 



NEST OF THE KINGFISHER, {ALCEDO ISPIDA.) 



BY J. MC'INTOSH, ESQ. 



At page 22, of "The Naturalist," S, Hannaford, Esq., Jun., expresses his 

 doubts as to the Kingfisher constructing its nest of disgorged fish bones. On 



