The Common Crossbill 53 



is more gregarious than in summer, tliougli even during the latter season Seebohm 

 tells us that " small parties of males may be seen seeking food in company. 

 The}^ are ver_y earh' breeders ; and fresh eggs are usually found in February and 

 March. Eggs have been taken in April and May; but these are probably laid 

 by birds whose first nests have been destroyed by their numerous enemies, or by 

 heavy falls of snow, and are not second broods, as some ornithologists have 

 supposed. If these birds are successful in rearing a brood, the faniilj^-part}^ 

 appear at once to commence their gipsy life. If they meet a similar family-part}^ 

 the}' appear to fraternise at once, and form the nucleus of a flock, which is some- 

 times seen far from home as early as June, wandering in search of food. It is a 

 very pretty sight to see these flocks feeding upon the berries of the mouutain-ash,* 

 or stripping the larch or spruce trees of their cones. In winter they are exceed- 

 ingly tame, and will allow the observer to approach very near and watch them 

 without showing any signs of alarm. They are very active, and when busily 

 engaged in feeding, place themselves in all sorts of positions, like a Tit or a 

 Willow- Wren. They pass from tree to tree with strong but undulating flight, 

 continually calling to each other. In late winter or early spring the males have 

 a low warbling song, which reminds one somewhat of that of the Starling. The 

 female is said also to sing nearly as well as the male." (Hist. British Birds, 

 Vol. II, pp. 32-33). 



I have never heard the Crossbill sing, but should imagine that it would not 

 differ greatly from that of the so-called " Pine-Grosbeak " (when recording probably ; 

 for hitherto I have only heard the latter utter a little bubbling chirrup, consisting 

 of six or eight notes) ; in any case it must be a poor song, if we are to trust 

 the judgment of our musical friends the Germans. 



The call-note, and the only note which I ever heard proceed from the beak 

 of the Crossbill, is cliip, chip; chip, chip; chip, chip; repeated incessantly, from 

 morning to night, with the monotonous regularity of a pendulum : but Seebohm 

 declares that the bird sometimes says tsup, or tsop ; in which I think he must 

 have allowed his imagination to lead him astray, as it certainly has when he 

 likens the cry to those of Chaffinches and Linnets. 



The horizontal branch of a fir near the trunk, or at a distance from the 

 trunk, or the forking branches of a pine, sometimes not more than five feet from 

 the ground, are occasionally selected as building sites ; but it is stated that 

 apparently the favourite position is almost at the top of the tree, in the centre of 

 the forking branches which thus form a sort of frame in which to support it. 



' Hardl}- so earl}' as June though, for I do not remember to have seen these berries really ripe before 

 the first week in August. — A.G.B, 



Vol. II. P 



