THE CROSSBILLS. 



57 



There are also Crossbills which have white bands on the 

 wing. Of these there are two, the European White-winged 

 Crossbill (Z. bifasciata), which ranges to Eastern Siberia, and 

 the American White-winged Crossbill (Z. leucoptera), which 

 takes the place of Z. bifasciata in North America. 



I. THE CROSSBILL. LOXIA CURVIROSTRA. 

 {Plate IX.) 



Loxia curvirostra, Linn., S. N., i., p. 299 (1766); Newt. ed. 



Yarr., ii., p. 187 (1877); Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 127, pi. 



203 (1872) ; B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 57 (1883) ; Sharpe, 



Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii. p. 435 (1888); Saunders, Man., 



p. 193 (1889). 

 Loxia europcea, Macg., Br. B., i., p. 417 (1837). 

 Loxia fiytiopsittacus, Bechst, Orn. Taschenb, p. 106 (1882). 



Adult Male. — General colour above pale vermilion, the rump 

 clearer vermilion or pale scarlet ; under surface also vermilion ; 

 bill and feet brown ; iris hazel. Total length, 6 inches ; cul- 

 men, o*8; wing, 3*8; tail, 2*2; tarsus, o*6. 



Adult Female. — Not so brightly coloured as the male, being 

 olive-yellow, where the latter is red. 



Young Birds are dull coloured like the female, but are 

 streaked both above and below, the under surface being dull 

 white, slightly tinged with yellow and streaked with blackish 

 brown. 



Range in Great Britain. — Breeds in the pine districts of Scot- 

 land, and in Ireland. A nest from co. Waterford has been 

 presented by Mr. R. T. Ussher to the British Museum, 

 and it may be seen among the series of cases illustrating our 

 native birds and their nests. In the southern counties of 

 England the Crossbill also nests in suitable localities, but it is 

 chiefly known as a winter visitant in the south. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Over the greater part of 

 Europe and Northern Asia, as well as North America, being 

 everywhere an inhabitant of the pine regions. Several races 



