PARROT CROSSBILL. 35 



common species by Gmelin, who called it Loxia curvirostra 

 major ; but it is now admitted as a distinct species by Becli- 

 stein, Brclnn, Meyer, Naumann, and Nilsson, besides those 

 authors enumerated under the title here, and probably many 

 others of good authority. 



Since the year 1776, the date of that edition of Pennant's 

 British Zoology which contains his notice, this species has 

 occurred twice at least in Scotland, and several times in Eng- 

 land. Mr. Blyth has recorded one instance of its being shot 

 in Surrey ; and a second instance of its being obtained in the 

 autumn of 1835 in Epping Forest. Several specimens were 

 brouo'ht for sale to the London market in March 1838, and 

 were eagerly purchased by those who w^ere acquainted with 

 the specific difference, and aware of their rarity. Two of 

 these I saw and examined. Mr. Bartlett was the purchaser 

 of a third, and I am indebted to him for the opportunity of 

 fiourinff from the sternum of that bird to show the difference 

 in size between it and that of our more common species. 

 These representations form the subject of the vignette at the 

 end of this article. 



Specimens of the Parrot Crossbill are frequently brought 

 from Germany to this country by dealers in birds' skins. 

 The food of this bird, and its mode of obtaining it, are, as 

 far as known, the same as that of the Common Crossbill ; but 

 the Parrot Crossbill is a much rarer bird. In high northern 

 latitudes it breeds in May ; but in more southerly countries 

 it is said to go to nest much earlier in spring, or even before 

 the winter has entirely passed away ; it is also said to lay four 

 or five ash-coloured eggs, spotted with red at the larger end. 



According to M. Temminck, this bird is only an occa- 

 sional visiter either in Holland or France ; it inhabits Ger- 

 many, and the parts of the European continent still farther 

 north. M. Nilsson includes the species in his Birds of 

 Sweden, but mentions that specimens are more frequently 



D 2 



