FRIN'GILLIN.E. 



THE CROSSBILL. 



LoxiA CURVIROSTRA, Linnceus. 



In England the Crossbill is generally noticed from autumn to 

 spring, in family parties which sometimes unite to form flocks ; but 

 numerous instances are known in which this essentially nomadic 

 species has bred among conifers, e\"en in the southern and eastern 

 counties, although such situations as its habits require are less 

 frequent there than in the north. From the Lake district upward 

 it nests in many localities, chiefly in the old pine-forests of Scotland; 

 but it seldom strays to the Outer Hebrides, and is an uncertain 

 visitor to the Orkneys, though of regular occurrence in the Shetlands. 

 In Ireland it has been found breeding in many counties, owing to 

 the increase of fir plantations of late years. Throughout the British 

 Islands it occurs irregularly on migration, from July onward. 



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