COMMON CROSSBILL. 15 



and seldom measure more than six inches and a quarter in 

 length ; old females are the largest, and frequently mea- 

 sure seven inches in length : the wings rather long and 

 pointed, indicating considerable powers of flight ; the 

 average extent from tip to tip, about eleven inches ; from 

 the carpal joint to the end of the first quill-feather, which 

 is the longest, three inches and three-quarters ; the second 

 quill-feather a very little shorter than the first ; the third 

 a little shorter than the second, and the fourth feather one 

 quarter of an inch shorter than the third. 



Besides several skins in my own collection of birds, 

 killed in July, September, November, and January ; some 

 skins selected with reference to particular states of plumage, 

 and opportunities of examining from time to time various 

 specimens kept in confinement for observation, I have 

 been favoured with many others. W. Wells, Esq. of 

 Kedleaf, very kindly sent me some in different states of 

 plumage from Penshurst, where these birds were recently 

 so numerous that nine were killed at one shot. The Rev. 

 William Browne, of Cheam, sent me five specimens from 

 Devizes soon after Christmas. I have had the use of a 

 dozen in various states of plumage from Mr. Joseph Clarke 

 of Saffron Walden, and as many from Mr. Henry Double- 

 day of Epping, in which locality these birds have been 

 unusually numerous. 



The upper figure of the group at the head of this sub- 

 ject, as before observed, represents a young bird ; the 

 middle figure is from an old male ; the lower figure is from 

 an adult female. 



Since the previous portion of this subject was written, I 

 have, by the kindness of Mr. John Leadbeater, of Brewer 

 Street, had an opportunity of examining a young Cross- 

 bill, which was undoubtedly bred in this country during 



