THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 49 



a full complement of eggs, was entirely lined with 

 peat fibre. 



In autumn, small parties of Twites haunt the 

 margins of our salt marshes, and an old female, 

 which we shot out of a flock, in the middle of 

 November, 1884, at Skinburness, was still deep in 

 moult. 



Sub-Family LOXIIN^. 

 Genus PYRRHULA. 



P. Europcea. Bullfinch. 



The Bullfinch is a local resident, most widely 

 distributed in search of food in autumn and winter. 

 We lately found a nest with five eggs, placed upon 

 a loj^ped branch of fir, lying horizontally upon the 

 ground. Several feathered nestlings, which we dis- 

 sected, had their crops crammed with garden seeds. 



Of late years, some fine hybrids between this 

 species and the Goldfinch have been reared in 

 confinement by Mr. Scott of Carlisle, and other 

 Cumbrian bird-keepers. 



Genus LOXIA. 



L. Pityopscittacus. Parrot Crossbill. 



The Parrot Crossbill has accidentally occurred 

 in Cumberland in two difierent instances. A male 

 and female in the Taylor collection were shot on 

 the Irthing by the late Mr. Proud [R. Leslie^ MS., 

 IF. Proud in lit.), circa 1847-50. 



Three others, a red bird, a green bird, and a 

 bird apparently changing from green to red (without 



