4836 THE ZooLtocist—Marcu, 1876. 
Mr. Yarrell has paraphrased the differentiation, as under, at page 28 of his 
second volume :— 
The American Whitewinged Crossbill. The European Whitewinged Crossbill. 
Loxia leucoptera (Gmel.). Loxia bifasciata (Nilsson). 
fulvirostra (Latham). 
In size smaller than a sparrow. In size larger than a sparrow. 
Beak small, very much compressed, the Beak almost as large as that of the 
points slender and elongated. common crossbill; less compressed 
than the same part in the American, 
and the points less crossed over and 
less elongated. 
The tail greatly forked. The tail less forked. 
The males I have seen have the plumage The males I have seen have the plumage 
of a brilliant crimson, the tail black ; dull brick-red, the tail-feathers more 
the feathers with little or no bor- obviously bordered with yellow. 
dering. 
Inhabits the United States of America Has been observed accidentally in winter 
and about Hudson’s Bay. in Belgium, England, Sweden and 
Bavaria. 
It would appear from this that Loxia leucoptera is a purely North- 
American bird, and Loxia bifasciata merely an accidental winter visitor in 
Europe. It was not admitted by Temminck into the second edition of his 
‘Birds of Europe.’ According to Harting’s ‘ Handbook,’ between twenty 
and forty specimens of Loxia bifasciata have been obtained in Britain, and 
six of Loxia leucoptera, besides a large. flock seen near Banff by Thomas 
Edward, and reported in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1859. Of course it cannot be 
decided to which of the two species the bird seen by Mr. Mitford belongs.— 
Edward Newman.| 
Starling’s Mode of Feeding.—May I ask Mr. Gurney, jun., to turn to 
page 3648 (S. 8.) of the ‘ Zoologist,’ where he will find a short note of mine 
on the starling’s mode of feeding? and I will only add that, from what 
I remember then seeing I am inclined to think that both mandibles are 
thrust into the ground, or rather, as I before said, into the grass-roots, and 
if seen would, I think, leave similar impressions to those left by the rooks on 
piercing the puff-balls. I should be glad to hear whether starlings have been 
observed to pierce the bare ground in the same manner. Perhaps you will 
allow me to ask—supposing it to be a habit of the starling to seek for grubs 
in the manner indicated—how comes it that so few upper mandibles are 
worn away in the operation?—John Selater; Castle Eden, February 3, 
1876. 
Starling Feeding with open Beak.—With reference to the note in the 
February number of the ‘ Zoologist’ (8. S. 4796), I have repeatedly observed 
the starlings, on the lawn behind my house, “ picking the ground with their 
mouths open,” not being aware at the time that there was any controversy 
—— 
