182 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
him heavier and stronger in the bill than usual; and I am glad to say that 
his suspicion has proved correct. Prof. Newton confirms our determination 
of the sub-species; and Mr. J. G. Millais, of the Seaforth Highlanders, 
now quartered in Dublin, most kindly took the trouble to have sent from 
London a series of Crossbills obtained by himself in Scotland, which 
enabled me, by comparison, to make quite sure of the name, though of 
course the opinion of Prof. Newton would of itself have been quite 
sufficient. This, the first authenticated Irish specimen of the Parrot 
Crossbill, was shot, as I am informed, in Parsonstown demesne, on 
January 12th last. The past winter has been remarkable for the number 
of Crossbills which have been observed in various parts of Ireland.—A. G. 
Mors (74, Leinster Road, Dublin). 
Assumption of Male Plumage by the Female Crossbill.—On the 
18th October last I received from Edenhall two Crossbills, Lowia curvi- 
rostra, shot out of a large flock by the son of the head keeper. They were 
both in the dull crimson plumage of the male; but, on careful dissection, 
one proved to be a female bird, the ovary being slightly enlarged. To this 
I may add that Crossbills were extremely numerous in this district all last 
summer. In November their numbers were largely increased by migratory 
flocks.—E. anny (Penrith). 
Crossbills in Suffolk—A good many Crossbills have appeared this 
winter in West Suffolk, more than in any season since 1867, when I can 
remember having seen the table of a birdstuffer's shop in Bury almost 
covered with recently-killed examples in various plumages. In one box of 
seven, sent to me from near Retford, were male birds in four quite different 
plumages, one being in the bright yellow-brown dress, which seems the 
most uncommon of all. Another male, in the red plumage, measured in 
the flesh 72 inches, and has a very powerful bill: this has been pronounced 
to be intermediate between the Common and Parrot Crossbill—JuLian 
Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Suffolk). 
Nesting of the Black Redstart in Essex.—Writing on this subject 
(p. 151), Mr. Miller Christy says:—‘ The breeding of the Black Redstart 
in England has been several times recorded on very doubtful grounds, 
but never yet satisfactorily established.” As I happen to know of one 
authenticated case in which the eggs have been preserved, it may be worth 
notice. The nest I refer to was found by my father, William Jesse, whose 
name will be familiar to your readers as that of the naturalist who accom- 
panied the Abyssinian Expedition under Lord Napier, and his account of 
the discovery, which was inserted in his collection-book at the time, is as 
follows :—* These specimens [i. e. four] were taken by myself in the garden- 
wall of Mr. James Parder, Braddon House. I saw both birds myself, the 
hen on the nest, I once saw a Black Redstart (male) killed at the Hyde 
