Mr. C. B. Ticeliurst on Loxia pytyopslttacus. 357 



confounded with the Common Crossbill. The Scottish Cross- 

 hill [L. c. scotica), as ■will be seen from the measurements 

 appended, is intermediate between the other two, but even 

 so I have not seen out of fifteen or more specimens any 

 which mig:ht be confounded with L. pytyopsittacus. 



Though measurements do just indicate the differences in 

 the size of the bill in these three birds, one can tell perhaps 

 more easily by the comparative ap[)earances of the strong, 

 stout, thick, blunt-pointed bills of scotica and pytyopsittacus, 

 than by actual measurement. 



Loxia curvirostra curvirostra. 



Culmeu, Height Width 

 from of upper of lower 

 feather mandible mandihle 

 Wing. Tail. Tarsus, edge. at base, at base. 



S 93-101 58-62 17-18 175-20 7-7-75 105-11 



2 92-96 56-61 17-18 17-5-19-5 7-7-75 9-5-10-75 



Loxia curvh'ostra scotica. 



S 98-5-104 61-64 17-18 185-20 8-25-9 11-5-13 



$ 95-98-5 58-5-63-5 17-18 17-75-19-5 7-8 11-12 



Loxia pytyopsittacus. 

 S (4 only) . 103-108 63-5-67 17-18 19-25-22 9-5-10 13-5-14 

 $ (CoUett) . 102-104 62-63 ? ? P ? 



These measurements, which I have taken myself on a 

 number of specimens, agree more or less with those of 

 Prof. Collett, Mr. Dresser, and Dr. Hartert where corre- 

 sponding measurements are given. 



It would appear to be unreasonable to accept L. scotica as 

 a good form and yet exclude L. jnjtyopsittacus. It may be 

 urged that L. scotica has a definite and confined distribution, 

 which is true so far as toe know at present, though personally 

 I failed to see any distinguishing character between L. scotica 

 and the Cypriote bird, called L. yuillemardi, on comparing a 

 number of specimens of each. 



