32 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



found hailed from the eastern and southern 

 counties, though there was presumptive evidence 

 to show that the hirds were breeding, or had bred, 

 in many others besides. They were certainly most 

 to the fore in Norfolk and Suffolk, where I heard 

 of a score of nests having been found in merely a 

 long week-end ; but a good many bred in Surrey, 

 Sussex, Kent, Berks, and Hampshire. Nesting 

 was recorded from Plumstead, of all places, only 

 a very few miles from the metropolis. 



Anywhere and at any time is the occurrence of 

 Crossbills regulated not only by the presence of 

 larches and chiefly Scotch and Douglas firs, but 

 also by the prevailing crop of cones, on the seeds 

 of which the birds mainly support themselves at 

 most seasons. The nestlings, however, are princi- 

 pally nourished on caterpillars and insect-life, fare 

 which, together with occasional meals off larch 

 buds amongst others, during spring and summer, 

 commends itself to their parents as a pleasing 

 change. Mr. Robinson, of Saddlescombe, Sussex, 

 informs me that he has seen a Crossbill feeding 

 on the seeds of a thistle. 



Although Crossbills quite frequently betoken 

 their presence especially just before quitting one 

 tree for another, and when actually on the move 

 by their characteristic, metallic, and ticking cry of 

 chuk which, when heard from a flock, generates 

 into a pleasant sort of twitter they are while feeding 

 unusually quiet. They then frequently give them- 



