OTES 



CROSSBILLS BREEDING IN SUFFOLK FOR THE 

 FOURTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION. 



It is gratifying to see Mr. C. S. Meares's note on the 

 Crossbill {Loxia c. curvirostra) breeding in Shropshire and 

 Norfolk {British Birds, Vol. VI., p. 371), and to find that it 

 has also bred in Surrey {Countryside, Vol. V., p. 387). There 

 can be no doubt as to the authenticity of the latter record, 

 as the time, position and materials of the nest are quite- 

 typical. The above records, in conjunction with my 

 experience given below, further strengthens my contention 

 that the Crossbill must now be ranked as a resident breeding 

 species in England. 



On January 20th, 1913, I received information of Cross- 

 bills having been seen in three separate parts of Sujffolk, 

 all apparently paired, one flock of sixteen, one of eight, and 

 one of four. On March 15th young birds were seen. I 

 accordingly paid a visit to the district on March 16th, and 

 though I spent two whole days in search of the birds I did not 

 see or hear one : but I found in two widely separated parts 

 plenty of evidence of Crossbills in the form of very recently 

 worked pine-cones. Just after my visit I received information 

 of a nest with four eggs. Unfortunately I was unable to 

 go and inspect the nest in situ, but both nest and eggs were 

 forwarded to me for inspection, which left no doubt as to 

 the authenticity, both being quite typical. This nest was 

 situated in a Scotch pine, nine feet only from the ground 

 and on the side of a high road. When the nest was 

 visited a second time the bird was on and refused to leave 

 the tree. 



In conversation with a keeper whom I had not previously 

 met, I was informed that Crossbills were seen every autumn 

 during the game-driving ; he knew the birds quite well. 



P. F. BmSTYAED. 



[With reference to the Countryside record quoted above, 

 it should be stated that the birds were apparently not seen, 

 and that the eggs are merely described as being very much 

 like those of a Greenfinch. Apparently no comparison of 

 either nest or eggs was made. — ^H.F.W.] 



