THE BIRDS OF BRECONSHIRE. 61 
Chwifanydd (Williams). 
CROSSBILL, Loxia curvtrostra. 
Rare here except for occasional visi- 
tations. In the winter of, I believe, 
1866, they were abundant all over the 
county. Some tall larch trees in my 
garden at Vennyfach were literally 
covered with them one morning. Not 
knowing their note I killed several, but 
after that I did not disturb them. One 
of the birds killed was a cock in 
splendid plumage of a bright red; 
another a cock of a bright yellow; whilst 
the rest were hens of a dull olive-green. 
They stayed with us for some time, but 
all left about January, except one hen 
that stayed about the place until April, 
when I missed her; she frequented one 
larch tree in particular, and was so tame 
that she would take no notice of any- 
one’s approach. I have often watched 
her within a few feet, and her mode of 
feeding on the seeds of the fir-cone, and 
indeed her actions generally, invariably 
reminded me of those of a parrot. I felt 
quite sorry when she left us to return no 
more. I think if she had had a mate 
