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140 BIRD GALLERY. 
No. 9. SISKIN. (Chrysomitris spinus.) 
Breeds regularly in many parts of Scotland, more rarely in England 
and Ireland, where it is principally known as a winter visitor. The 
nest is usually situated in pine-woods and difficult to find, being placed 
in the fork of a horizontal branch some distance from the stem, and at 
a considerable height from the ground. The eggs are five or six in 
number, and two broods are generally reared in the season, the first 
leaving the nest early in May. 
Co. Wicklow, April. 
Presented by Allan Ellison, Esq. 
No. 10. CROSSBILL. (Loxia curvirostra.) 
A somewhat rare and local resident in our islands, more often met 
with in the northern and central counties of Scotland and parts of 
Ireland, though it has been known to breed in numerous instances in 
England. ‘he peculiar shape of its bill is admirably adapted for 
tearing open the cones of pine and larch to extract the seeds, which form 
its principal food. The nest is usually situated in a pine-tree some 
distance (in the present instance 37 feet) from the ground and contains 
four or five eggs which are laid as early as February or March. 
The male in this group is probably a bird in its second year and has 
not yet assumed the red plumage by which very old males are 
distinguished. 
Co. Waterford, March. 
Presented by R. J. Ussher, Esq. 
No. 1l. LINNET. (Linota cannabina.) 
Universally distributed throughout the British Islands, but rare in 
the north of Scotland. The nest is generally placed in gorse or other 
low bushes, and the eggs, four to six in number, are laid in the end of 
April or beginning of May, a second brood being often reared later in 
the season. 
Leicestershire, May. 
Presented by Theodore Walker, Esq. 
No. 12. LESSER REDPOLL. (Linota rufescens.) 
This bird was at one time supposed to be restricted to the British 
Isles during the breeding-season, but it has now been ascertained to 
