210 Fringillidce. 



France it is Le Bee croisd; in Germany, Fichten Kreuzschnabel, 

 'Pine Crossbill;' in Spain, Pico-tuerto, 'twisted beak,' and in 

 Portugal Cruzabico. 



I have many notices of its occurrence in almost all parts of the 

 county ; suffice it to say that some years since they frequented the 

 larch plantations at Old Park in considerable numbers. Mr. 

 Marsh saw some trees in his garden at Sutton Benger covered 

 with them in 1838, and relates that the keeper at Brinkworth 

 killed fifteen at a shot. In South Wilts Mr. Baker records that 

 a large flock visited Mere in the winter of 1868; Mr. King of 

 Warminster had many brought to him from Stourton about 

 1873 ; Mr. T. Powell of Hurdcott reports that they frequented a 

 plantation of Scotch and spruce fir there, some time back ; and 

 the Kev. A. P. Morres has numerous notices of their appearance 

 from time to time in the neighbourhood of Salisbury. The 

 'Marlborough College Natural History Reports' mention a flock 

 at Martinsell in 1866, and some seen in 1870. Major Henea^c 

 has a specimen, considered from its large size to be a Parrot 

 Crossbill, which was shot at Compton Basse tt in 1868. Lord 

 Methuen informs me that it has been seen at Corsham Court . 

 Mrs. Story Maskelyne recollects its appearance at Basset Down 

 some winters back ; and Mr. Grant received half a dozen in the 

 winter of 1868, when it was generally abundant in England. 



In plumage scarcely two specimens in a large flock are alike, 

 so variously are its colours distributed, for while some old males 

 are nearly crimson all over, others are of a lighter shade of red, 

 and others again in a mottled garb of green, red, orange, and 

 brown. Its legs, though short, are very strong, and it will climb 

 and swing from branch to branch, taking firm hold with its long 

 hooked claws ; it is very active too, and lively in its manners, and 

 remarkably fearless and confiding. 



STURNID^E (THE STARLINGS). 



This is an interesting family, the members of it so pert and 

 lively, and with so many amusing habits ; they are very sociable, 

 and usually move in large flocks; omnivorous, for nothing seems 



