THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 51 



included the Crossbill as having bred in Cumberland, 

 in his masterly essay on the Distribution of Birds 

 in Great Britain during the nesting season. [Ibis, 

 1865, reprint, j)- 39). 



In other localities, chiefly on the Scottish 

 borders, a few pairs of Crossbills appear to breed 

 sporadically. 



In 1856, Mr. James Fell observed a pair of Cross- 

 bills building in a small plantation at Cumwhinton, 

 and after much patient watching, took the completed 

 nest, containing four eggs on March 20th. Mr. 

 T. C. Heysham purchased this nest and two eggs. 

 The other two eggs exist in Mr. T. Armstrong's 

 cabinet. In May, 1885, we had the pleasure of 

 introducing our friend Mr. Edward Bidwell to the 

 song of the male Crossbill, "Gip, gip, gip, ci, ci," 

 the last two notes soft and slightly prolonged. We 

 examined a newly-completed nest, which agreed in 

 materials, with nests in Mr. Bidwell's collection. 

 Being unable to re-visit the spot, we tried to make 

 arrangements for the nest being sent to us when 

 the eggs were laid, but these accidentally fell 

 through. 



Two old birds and one of their brood were shot 

 near Alston on April 15th, 1839. An unfledged 

 nestling was caught at Armathw^aite in 1860, and 

 Mr. Greenwell subsequently shot a Crossbill in the 

 striated first plumage, which is in our possession. 



L. Bifasciata. Two-Barred Crossbill. 



A notable visitation of this resident of north- 

 east Europe occurred in the autumn of 1845, w4ien 

 a flock appeared in the neighbourhood of Brampton, 



«l * I ». 



