FRINOir,I,l\.K 



"93 



THE CROSSBILL. 



L(')XIA CURVIR(')STRA, Luinaius. 



The Crossbill is generally noticed in England from autumn to 

 spring, when wandering about the country in family-parties which 

 sometimes unite to form flocks ; but numerous instances are known 

 in which it has remained to breed among the conifers of the 

 southern counties, although such situations as its habits require 

 are less frequent there than in the north. Across the Solway, and 

 northward, it nests in many districts, chiefly in the old pine- 

 forests ; but it does not ai)pear to stray to the Outer Hebrides, 

 although it is an uncertain visitor to the Orkneys and Shetlands. 

 In Ireland it has occasionally bred in cos. Down, Mcath, Kildare, 

 Wicklow and Tipperary, and occurs irregularly on migration. 







