192 BRITISH BIRDS. 



Shropshire and Worcestershire. — On August 6th, a 

 party of eight passed over our valley at Dowles. Since 

 when up to the time of writing (15th October), some have 

 frequented this locality, which is on the borders of both 

 counties. The flock varies in numbers, as many as 

 fifteen or more being seen on September 29th, and at 

 other times only an odd bird will be seen or heard on 

 the wing. It seems rather remarkable that their stay 

 with us should be so continued, as the larch-trees, upon 

 which they devote a considerable part of their time, are 

 limited to some one hundred trees (J. Steele Elliott). About 

 twenty were seen near Myddle Salop on September 24th 

 and since (H. E. Forrest). 



Gloucestershire. — A male, picked up dead against some 

 wire-netting at Mitcheldean on September 27th. Several 

 flocks (10-20 birds each) seen middle of October (N. F. 

 Richardson). 



Berkshire. — Male in red plumage at Calcott Park, Reading, 

 on September 15th (F. J. Stubbs). 



Hertfordshire.— Flocks were seen in the woods near Tring 

 in August, a male and female was shot on September 28th 

 and three males on October 2nd near Tring (E. Hartert). 

 A flock of about 15 seen on July 30th, and others 

 heard and seen since up to the middle of September, 

 near Watton (Rev. Allan Ellison). 



Surrey. — Several small flocks at Leatherhead, from about 

 the middle of September to October 16th, 1909 

 (P. F. Bunyard). 



Sussex. — Two (a green and a red one) seen on September 10th 

 at Maresfield ; one on September 11th and two on 

 September 22nd ; four on September 22nd and five or 

 six (one adult) on September 28th at Uckfield (R. Morris). 



Spain. — Mr. Abel Chapman writes : — "Mr. B. F. Buck informs 

 me that : ' The Crossbills were first observed in Andalusia 

 on July 17th, 1909, but had probably arrived some days 

 earlier, as " curious birds " had been reported. They 

 were in the pine-trees, but seven which I got were caught 

 on the ground in a net. There was one red one, a cock 

 presumably, but unluckily the cat got him. They all 

 died in captivity ; we could not find out what they 

 needed to eat. I heard and saw them all the rest of 

 July and up to the end of August. A Spanish idea was 

 that the Crossbills had come over from Africa owing to 

 the firing at Melilla ! ' Note that there were many Cross- 

 bills in the pine-woods of Coto Donana in the preceding 



