176 



BIEDS. 



ities, is a rare straggler from the Xortli, and has occurred 

 bilt twice in England — in Sussex and Middlesex. 



Pine Grosheak. — An exceedingly rare straggler from the 

 far North, the validity of even the few that have reached 

 these islands being questioned. 



A local resident, though more commonly seen in winter, 

 the Crossbill is distinguished from every other British 



Crossbill. 



bird, excei:)t its rare congener, by the scissors-like bill, the 

 mandibles of which cross at the tip. Its j^lumage is dull 

 crimson. It breeds regularly in some Scottish 

 l)ine - forests, but its breeding in England 

 and Ireland is exceedingly irregular. Crossbills were 

 unusually plentiful in Shropshire during the winter 

 1894-95.^ The food of. this bird consists of the seeds 

 of the fir, spruce," larch, and kindred trees, its bill being 



A Caradoc and Severn Valley Field Clulj ' Record,' 1895. 



