THE TWO-BARRED CROSSBILL. 89 



DESCRIPTION. Like Loxia c. scotica but still larger, wing being 

 longer and bill deeper, broader, and longer. 



Measurements. <J wing 98-110 mm., tail 57-66, tarsus 18-19, 

 bill depth at base 14-15.5, length of upper mandible from 

 feathers 19-21 (13 measured). $ wing 99-106. 



BREEDING-HABITS. Haunts pine-forests, generally apart from 

 Common Crossbill, and much less numerous. Nest. Similar in 

 character, rather more substantial, of grasses, pine-needles, and 

 mosses on foundation of twigs, and warmly lined grasses, bark- 

 strips, lichens, feathers, etc. Eggs. 3-4, rarely 5, larger on 

 average than Common Crossbill's, with generally bolder and 

 blacker markings, otherwise very similar. Average of 100 eggs, 

 22.31 X 16.5 mm. Breeding-season. Variable, eggs found from 

 Dec. to June. In Scandinavia generally March or April. 

 Incubation. Stated as 14-15 days, but confirmation required. 

 Probably sometimes double-brooded. 



FOOD. Chiefly seeds of various species of pine. 



DISTRIBUTION. British Isles. Rare vagrant. A good many re- 

 corded, but some at least (especially from Scotland) may be 

 referable to L. c. scotica. The following examined by us are of 

 this species : near Plumstead (Kent) Jan., 1868 ; Southgate 

 (Middlesex) Nov., 1864. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. North Europe (Scandinavia and north 

 Russia to Poland). Like other Crossbills, somewhat nomadic, and 

 known to have nested in Germany and probably also in other 

 parts of central Europe. 



LOXIA LEUCOPTERA 



36 . Loxia leucoptera bif asciata (Brehm) THE TWO-BARRED 

 CROSSBILL. 



CRUCIROSTRA BIF ASCIATA Brehm, Ornis, in, p. 85 (1827 Thuringia and 



Vienna). 



Loxia bif asciata (C. L. Brehm), Yarrell, n, p. 211 ; Saunders, p. 203. 



Two-barred Crossbill Loxia I. bif asciata) . 



