78 



Measure- 25 eggs taken in Norfolk by Norgate average 22.32 X 16.06 mm., 



meuts. i^iax. 25X17 mm., Min. 20X16 and 22X15.25 mm. It is noticeable 

 that the average size is equal to that of eggs of L. pytyopsitacus. 



b. Contiueutal CrosslbiU, Loxia ciu-virostra ciirvii'ostra L. 



Plate 12, fig. 26—29 (Viborg, Denmark, 19. 11. 89). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXXVI, fig. 18, a-b (c?). Baedeker, 

 Tab. 20, fig. 8. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Kfivka ohecnci. Denmark: Mindre or 

 almindelig Korsnaeh. Finland: Kcipylintu, Bistinokka. France: Bec-croise. 

 Germany: Gemeiner or Ficlitenkreuzsclinabel. Helgoland: Borrfink. Holland: 

 Kruishek. Hungary: Kis keresztorru, Maddr. Italy: Crociere. Norv^ay: 

 Orankorsnaeb. Poland: Krzyzodzibb. Russia: Klest-yelovik. Sweden: Mindre 

 Korsndhh, Krumsnahel. 



Loxia curvirostra L. Dresser, Birds of Europe, IV, p. 127; id. Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 339 (part.). L. c. curvirostra L. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 117. 



Breeding Range: The larger coniferous woods of the whole of 



Europe, except the British Isles, the Iberian peninsula, the Balearic Isles 



and Cyprus, where it is replaced by other races. It has not been found 



breeding in Sardinia, Sicily or southern Italy. 



*^°"" In Scandinavia and Russia the Crossbill is found as far as the pine 



tinental . .. T-nv ^ • ^ ^ 



Europe, belt extends, sometimes appeanng m great numbers. In Denmark it breeds 



only rarely; but is found locally in all the large pine forests of middle 



Europe, nesting in the Alps from about 2700 ft. to 5400 ft. In the 



Balkan peninsula it is found not only in the Balkans, but also in the 



mountains of Greece, and is resident in northern Italy in the Etruscan 



Apennines and on the southern slopes of the Alps. In Corsica it is fairly 



common in the pine forests. 



Nest. Similar to that of the British race already described. Wheelwright 



says that Swedish nests are usually built in small pines, very rarely in 



firs, never in the depths of the forest, but always on a stony rise where 



the trees are small and stand wide apart. During the nesting season the 



cock sings from the top of a pine in the vicinity of the nest, and by 



watching them he found over 35 nests in one season. They do not breed 



in colonies, but two or more pairs are always to be found in the same 



district and the same locality is often resorted to year aften year. 



Eggs. 3 — 5 in number; similar in appearance to those of the British races. 



Breeding Apparently there is not much variation in the breeding time over 



Season. ]^q greater part of Europe. In Scandinavia it extends from February to 



the end of April. In Denmark full clutches have been found from the 



end of January onward: in Styria Hanf found two nests with 4 eggs each 



