Sone BRITISH BIRDS. 
1766, in his ‘ British Zoology’ (p. 106). He received a male and female 
“out of Shropshire.” Upwards of a score examples of this bird have 
since Pennant’s day been taken in our islands. Most of these specimens 
have been captured in England, a few in Scotland, and one in Wales. 
The typical form of the Crossbill breeds in most of the pime-forests of 
the Palearctic Region, in Norway occasionally ranging north of the 
Arctic circle, but in North Russia not ranging above lat. 64°, and in Asia 
probably not above lat. 62°. It breeds in the Pyrenees, the Alps, and 
the Carpathians, and probably also in the Urals; but it has not been 
recorded from the Caucasus. It is said to be a resident in the Balearic 
Islands, and in the Atlas Mountains m Algeria. It has not been recorded 
from Persia or Turkestan, nor did Finsch or Tancré’s coHector find it in the 
Altai Mountains. It certainly breeds in Kamtschatka, and probably also 
in other pine-regions in Eastern Siberia. In winter it is a very irregular 
migrant to most parts of Europe, having been obtained in Denmark, 
Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece; but Sharpe and 
Dresser’s statement, which Newton * appears to have copied, that Dr. 
Kriiper found its nest in the Parnassus, is probably based on a mis- 
translation. Eastwards it winters in South Siberia, North China, and 
Japan, in which islands it is said to be very abundant; but ornithologists 
have omitted to say at what season of the year. 
The large form of the Common Crossbill, generally known as the Parrot 
Crossbill, breeds principally in Scandinavia, the Baltic provinces, and 
North Germany. It does not appear to wander far in winter; but at 
this season it occasionally visits Denmark, Holland, France, Southern 
Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 
The Crossbill is one of the few migratory birds which do not 
wander further from home in winter than the inclemency of the season 
or the scarcity of food compels them. They have consequently been 
called gipsy migrants—irregular visitors who may be very common one 
year and very rare the next, sometimes coming early, sometimes late, 
and sometimes not at all. They are preeminently gregarious birds. In 
winter they wander about in large flocks ; and even in the breeding-season 
small parties of males may be seen seeking food in company. They are 
very early 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 family-party appear at once to commence their gipsy life. If 
* Professor Newton appears also to have copied Sharpe and Dresser’s assertion that 
Swinhoe found the Crossbill on the island of Formosa, a statement for which I am unable 
to find any authority. 
