8o The Oologists' Record, December i, 1922. 



is seldom intentionally concealed, and the female sits so remarkably 

 closely — her large head and forked tail being generally plainly 

 visible — that it cannot possibly be mistaken for an old one. The 

 most conspicuous feature about the nest of the Crossbill, however, 

 is the invariable presence of white patches of excrement on the 

 rim. This may be found even when the eggs are quite fresh, and 

 I do not recollect having seen the matter referred to before. 



The normal clutch of eggs of the Crossbill is four, but sets of 

 three are not uncommon, especially in early nests. Clutches of 

 five are exceedingly rare. 



I have referred above to the extraordinary way in which the 

 Crossbill will sit. It is sometimes quite impossible to get her to 

 move, and I have over and over again lifted a bird off her eggs. 



In these notes I have made only a passing reference to the great 

 irruption of the Crossbill in 1910. Unfortunately in early March 

 of that year I had to go over to the United States, so that I lost 

 what was probably a unique opportunity of studying that wonderful 

 visit. Such irruptions, however, are periodical, not only with the 

 Crossbill but with other species, and I hope that should another 

 such take place in our time I shall be here to observe it. 



I think that probably East Anglia is one of the very few areas 

 in which the Crossbill is a resident in England, and I shall be grateful 

 for any information which may cause me to alter my opinion. 

 Of course, in many counties of Ireland it is resident and not 

 uncommon, but as far as the southern half of Great Britain is 

 concerned I don't think we have a great deal to learn. 



A MULTIPLE-UNIT EGG CABINET. 



A very interesting and ingenious cabinet has been designed by 

 one of our subscribers, Major A. G. L. Sladen, and executed by 

 J. Hill and Sons, of Yewfield Road, Willesden, N. The accom- 

 panying illustration gives some idea of its construction. It is, 

 in fact, a multiple-unit system which can be expanded or inter- 

 changed at the will and convenience of the collector. It is built 

 up of— 



(i) A body section so arranged that it will take any drawers 



