NOTES. 259 



Will they gradually lessen in numbers or will they suddenly 

 disappear ? Will they return to the region where they were 

 bred ? 



We hope that these questions may be answered by the 

 careful observations of our readers during the next few 

 months. It must be remembered that nesting operations 

 frequently commence in February, so that close watch on the 

 flocks should now be kept to ascertain whether they move off 

 together or break up into pairs, whether their numbers 

 fluctuate and whether they appear in places they have not 

 so far been recorded as visiting. 



Durham. — First noticed in the east of the county in the last 

 week of June, 1909. By the middle of July they were 

 fairly frequent in the Wear valley near Durham and 

 Wolsingham, and in the last week of July were seen in 

 the Upper Browney valley and Derwent valley (J. W. 

 Fawcett, Nat., 1909, p. 441). 



Yorkshire. — Eight at Hornby Castle on December 2nd, 

 1909 [H. Noble). 



Lincolnshire. — Six at Bourne on November 25th, 1909 

 (H. Noble). 



Derbyshire. — On December 21st, 1909, I examined fourteen 

 Crossbills at Mr. A. F. Adsett's shop in Derby. They 

 were all of the continental form, seven being " red" and 

 seven " green " birds. Four had been sexed, and in each 

 case the red proved to be a male and the green a female. 

 They were shot near Belper : the first three on November 

 19th, five more on November 23rd and the last six on the 

 27th. I have also been informed that four Crossbills 

 have been shot in theMelbourne district (F. C.R.Jourdain). 



North Wales. — The earliest recorded were at Llangollen 

 during the last week of September, 1909. They have 

 been seen repeatedly since in small parties and are 

 probably in considerable force along the Dee Valley. 

 Mr. T. Ruddy saw five at Dolgelly on November 18th, 

 1909 (they may have been there before, as it was only on 

 that date that Mr. Ruddy arrived) and noted them 

 several times subsequently {H. E. Forrest). 



Shropshire. — Flock at Cressage on December 10th, 1909 

 (H. E. Forrest). Small flock at Loynton Hall, near 

 Newport, on December 3rd, 1909, and a larger flock in 

 a different part of the grounds the following day (H. R. 

 Leach). 



