112 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



Mr. Sharpe tells me that a few are seen in the 

 neighbourhood of Cookham nearly every winter, but 

 it is not common there at any time. About the 

 year 1847, several birds of this species were shot 

 in the grounds of Drayton Lodge, and were placed 

 in the collection of Mr. S. W. Jenney, for a notice of 

 which I am indebted to the Rev. H. Crewe. It has 

 been observed in the plantations at Fulmer, and is 

 reported to have been seen in Burnham Beeches. 

 Five were shot late in the autumn of 1857 near 

 Virginia Water, and were taken for preservation to 

 Mr. Hasell, of Windsor, who told me that a single 

 bird of the same species was brought to him from 

 the same locality in the winter of 1866. A male 

 Crossbill flew into a room in a house near Reading 

 a few years ago, and a female bird of this species 

 was seen sitting in a tall hedge in the road between 

 Eton and Datchet, by Mr. J. Clayton, of Eton, early 

 in the morning of the 30th of November, 1867. Mr. 

 James Williams shot a pair near Aldbury a short 

 time ago, and it has been taken at Risborough. 



Family — CORVID^. 



Hooded Crow {Corvus comix). Locally termed 

 Royston Crow. May be observed along the banks 

 of the Thames every winter. This crow is exceed- 

 ingly wary, as those who have attempted to get a 

 shot will doubtless have discovered. A few, however, 



