NOTES AND QUERIES. 229 
for me, he was informed it was killed near March. I had hopes of being 
able to trace it to Norfolk.—Juxian G. Tuck (Tostock Rectory, Suffolk). 
Crossbill Breeding in Immature Plumage.—TI read with much 
pleasure Mr. Ussher’s notes (p. 180) upon the Crossbill breeding in Co. 
Waterford, and the more so as Dr. Giinther had kindly shown me the birds 
referred to, a few days before. The interesting point, of course, is to find 
the male of Lowia curvirostra breeding in a yellow dress, and before 
assuming the red plumage of maturity. Your readers will recollect that 
Mr. A. C. Chapman found the Pine Grosbeak breeding in immature 
plumage in the Tana valley, and Mr. Seebohm states that Carpodacus 
erythrinus does the same. I may add that the Lesser Redpoll also breeds 
in immature plumage, i.e., before the male has acquired the rose-pink 
breast, which Professor Newton describes as the summer plumage of that 
species. Among the Falconide the male Hen Harrier has been proved 
more than once to breed in immature plumage ; and if attention were paid 
to this point, probably similar facts would be elicited in regard to other 
species.—H. A, Macruerson (Carlisle). 
Crossbills Nesting in Suffolk and Norfolk.—TI have just received 
(April 11th) through Mr. Marsden of Gloucester, two nests of Crossbills, 
five eggs in each, and one hen bird shot from the nest; the one taken 
at Wrangford, in Suffolk, on April 4th, the other at Westing, in Norfolk, 
on March 30th. Perhaps they are of sufficient rarity breeding so far south 
as to be worth recording in ‘ The Zoologist.'—Puitip CrowLey (Waddon 
House, Croydon). 
[The nest of the Crossbill has been found very much further south 
than Mr. Crowley supposes, as, for example, in Hampshire, at Bourne- 
mouth, and in the Holt Forest. In this forest, before the Scotch firs were 
cut down (in 1888) to allow more room for the growth of the young oaks, 
Crossbills commonly bred there; and when the fir trees were thrown 
in the year referred to, four nests and eggs of this species were found 
amongst the branches, as recorded by Mr. Lewcock, of Farnham, Zool. 
1843, p. 189.—Ep.] 
Bee-eater in Ireland.— On the 2nd May last a male Bee-eater 
(Merops apiaster) was shot at Ballbriggan, Co. Dublin, in beautiful 
plumage, and in good condition. The stomach contained the remains of 
bees.—Epwarp Wit11Ams (2, Dame Street, Dublin). 
[What a pity it is that these beautiful birds cannot be left unmolested 
on their arrival, and that one selfish individual should invariably deprive 
all the naturalists in his county of the pleasure of observing it. We fail to 
see the use of a “ Wild Birds Protection Act,” obtained with so much 
trouble, if those who profess to be ornithologists do not aid in getting it 
enforced.— Ep.] 
