CROSSBILL. 1 59 



' weeds, 5 was looked upon as almost supernatural, and 

 more particularly so when, after a year of mourning, she, 

 at moulting-time, threw them partially off, and exhibited 

 some white feathers in her wings." 



The nest of the Bullfinch is lined with wool and hair, 

 and is generally placed in a hedge or bush at some 

 height from the ground. The eggs, usually five in 

 number, are of a greenish-blue, streaked and spotted 

 with red and purple. 



Mr. Ussher thinks that the Bullfinch is gaining ground 

 in Ireland. 



CROSSBILL. 



Loxia curvirostra ; Bec-croist des pins. 



It is only of comparatively late years that this remark- 

 able bird has been known as anything more than an 

 occasional visitor ; now it is believed to breed in most 

 of the conifer woods throughout the country. 



Mr. Ussher, in his Birds of Ireland, gives a most 

 interesting account of it since its settlement at Cappagh 

 in 1888, from which I venture to make a few quotations : 



" The Crossbill is more easily recognised than almost 

 any small bird in its flight, for it habitually announces 

 itself by its loud rattling call-note, ' jip, jip/ which draws 

 one's attention, when the bird is but a speck against the 

 sky; and its flight is usually above the tree-tops. The 

 song may be heard in February, even when snow is on 

 the ground, but more usually in March and April, and 

 occasionally by moonlight. 



" It is delivered as the bird sits on the leader of a 

 fir-tree, but sometimes while he takes a circuit on the 



