FINCHES. 403 



quently discovered, which was in the top of a Scotch fir about two hundred and 

 fifty yards from the first. It was built in the fork formed by several small lateral 

 branches with the leader, which at that point takes a bend ; and the nest, which is 

 small for so large a bird, might easily be mistaken from the ground for a knot or 

 enlargement of the crooked leader. It was placed in a perfect little cluster or 

 bower of smaller branches ; and was composed externally of fine dead twigs of 

 larch and Scotch fir, and within them of green moss, interwoven with wool, a few 

 horsehairs, and flakes of finer bark. The birds used not to cease their call-notes 

 while flying to a neighbouring tree and thence into the nesting-tree ; and the call 

 of the female was heard apparently coming from the nest itself. It was like the 

 syllables yep yep, or yup yup, while that of the male is much sharper, like gip gip. 

 In a young bird taken from this nest the points of the mandibles were straight, 

 not crossed, but the edges of the upper one overlapped the lower on both sides. 

 The down was all gone, and the plumage exhibited dark spots on a lighter ground 

 both on the upper and under surfaces. It was replaced in the tree, from 

 which it must have subsequently fallen, for a nestling was found in the adjoining 

 field and placed in a cage near the nesting - tree, where the old crossbills, 

 which had other young in the trees, continued to feed it often in the presence of 

 observers. In the meantime it became accustomed to feed on bruised hempseed 

 when it was removed to the house, where it soon became full-grown, and tame. 

 The notes of the last pair of crossbills, when excited, used often to attract 

 another pair — the male a red one — that frequented the neighbouring trees, and 

 which on such occasions would join their neighbours in the excitement; their 

 nest was discovered by the birds being seen carrying building materials to it. 

 They picked up bits of hay off the ground, not heeding the observer standing 

 near them." 



Although the crossbill appears to reside permanently in many parts of its 

 range, there can be no doubt of its roving habits ; in certain years great flights 

 appearing in the British Isles, and taking up their abode in parts of the country 

 well planted with belts of fir - trees, as was the case in 1888, when numbers of 

 these birds were reported as having made their appearance in different parts. 

 Sometimes, too, large flocks appear on their journey across the North Sea ; and 

 in June 1888, crossbills visited the island of Heligoland in numerous flights, 

 varying from ten to fifty birds. Hawthorns in the gardens were then crowded 

 with them, and on some days there must have been hundreds dispersed amongst 

 the foliage. A single straggler was caught about the same time on board the Bull 

 light-vessel, off the mouth of the Humber. The change and coloration of the plumage 

 of the crossbill has given rise to some amount of discussion ; but we are inclined to 

 adopt the views set forth in the British Museum Catalogue of Birds. In the full 

 plumage the adult male is pale vermilion above, the feathers having dusky bases ; 

 the crown of the head is pale vermilion, like the back and under surface ; the prim- 

 aries and tail-feathers are dark brown ; and the lower abdomen, the sides of the 

 body, and the flanks ashy brown washed with vermilion. After the first moult the 

 tints of the male become more orange and uniform, but the flanks are striped, and 

 there are also more or less striped feathers about the other portions of the body 

 It is now conclusively proved that the bright colours of the male are gradually 



