20 WOODLANDERS AND FIELD FOLK 



throweing at them with apples. They came when 

 the apples were full rype, and went away when 

 the apples were clean fallen. They were good 

 meat." 



The tameness here alluded to is characteristic of 

 the species. Fifty years ago a member of my family 

 followed a flock of thirteen of these birds, every one 

 of which, owing to their tameness, he, Vandal-like, 

 shot. The birds were feeding upon two larch trees 

 apart from the rest of the wood, and allowed the 

 gunner to come quite close. 



The crossbill can hardly now be considered a rare 

 bird in this country. It has occurred in every 

 English county, and has bred in a great many. And 

 yet much of its history remains in comparative 

 obscurity. It comes independent of time and 

 season, sets no limit to its wanderings, and breeds 

 wherever the season happens to find it. Nests of 

 crossbills have been found in almost every county; 

 and in Norway and Sweden, where the birds are 

 plentiful, they are found to breed in winter upon the 

 upper branches of the fir trees. The nest is usually 

 placed in the angle formed by a bough with the main 

 stem. The materials of which it is composed are 

 grass, moss and fine pine boughs. The nest and 

 eggs somewhat resemble those of our greenfinch, 

 though they are slightly smaller. The young, 

 when a few days old, are covered with fine down of 



