NOTES. 331 



I stated that my notes applied only to North Wicklow, and 

 it was this local and interesting fact that I was anxious to 

 record. The editors omitted a sentence from my original 

 note in which I excepted the Coolattin and Powerscourt 

 districts. Mr. Ellison, I believe, collected Siskin data mainly 

 from Coolattin Woods, Shillelagh and Deer Park, Powerscourt 

 districts, and would naturally hasten to point out a seemingly 

 grave error on my part. My note applies only to north of 

 Rathdrum, through Lard, Annamoe, Roundwood, andLuggala; 

 and I am confident only a small percentage of Siskins had 

 full clutches in April for some years past in these localities^ 

 whose elevated and exposed situations may account for later 

 breeding dates, and also for fewer clutches of five. Mr. 

 Ellison is right regarding the silence of the Siskin in stormy 

 and cold weather ; but it would have been quite impossible 

 for close observers to have overlooked young broods follow- 

 ing their parents during the beautiful Mays of 1908-09. 



In my former note I recorded five clutches of threes in 

 1909, three of these were undoubtedly full layings (nest con- 

 taining two young and one addled egg was inspected twice 

 when it contained three eggs). Mr. Ellison during his ten 

 years experience never found a completed laying of three. 



R. Hamilton Hunter. 



IRRUPTION OF CROSSBILLS.* 



The observations from correspondents received up to the 

 date of going to press seem to '•how that the Crossbills are 

 becoming less numerous, though there appears to be no 

 evidence as to the route they are taking if they are leaving 

 the country. It is to be hoped that our readers will make 

 still closer observations, and I should like not only to have 

 all records of the presence of Crossbills and their numbers, 

 but also further evidence of their absence from or diminution 

 in districts where they were present, and the dates on which 

 they were last seen. Careful search will no doubt lead to the 

 finding of more nests, but it is of equal importance to 

 discover how and when the majority of the birds leave the 

 country. H. F. W. 



Bedfordshire. — A flock of about a dozen " lately " in the 

 Great Hayes Wood, near Wellingborough (Rouse Orlebar, 

 Field, 27. xi. 1909). 



* For previous references to this subject, cf. pp. 82, 123, 162, 190- 

 194, 226-228, 258-261, 303-306. 



