FEINGILLID^. Yd 



examined some of these specimens in Mr. Xewton's collection, and believe 

 them to be merely the ordinary form of Crossbill (M. A. M.). 



In January, IbSS, a large flock visited ^Marley, near Exmouth, remaining 

 for several weeks. Some specimens were shot, which we examined in the 

 flesh, and are undoubted examples of this larger race. Two were in fine 

 red plumage (W. S. M. D'U., Zoologist, ISSS, p. 105). Mr. Seaward, of 

 Exmouth, has several still in his possession. 



White-winged Crossbill. Loxia Uucoi^tera, Gmel. 



[Considered by Messrs. Sharpe and Saunders as a subspecies of Loxia 

 hifasciatci (C, L. Brehm).] 



The only instance known of the occurrence of this bird in Devonshire is 

 that recorded by Mr. E. B. Eitton (Zool. 1845, 1190). It was a male in 

 his second plumage, and was picked up dead by Mr. Eitton himself on the 

 sea-shore at Exmouth, apparently just washed ashore, September 17th, 

 1S45. A strong wind from the south-west was blowing, and had con- 

 tinued for several days. This was the second example obtained in England 

 (Proc. Zool. Soe. 1845, p. 91). It had probably had an assisted passage 

 on the rigging of some vessel on its voyage from America to England. An 

 example of the White-winged Crossbill has also been obtained in Cornwall. 



Subfamily EMBERIZINjE, 



THE BUNTINGS. 



These birds differ from the Finches in having a bony 

 protuberance in the palate of the upper mandible which 

 is received into a corresponding- cavity in the lower jaw, 

 and peculiarly fits them for feeding on grain and hard 

 seeds. Only five out of the ten recognized British species 

 of Bunting have been observed in Devon, and of them the 

 Yellow Hammer alone can be considered really plentiful 

 all the year round and generally distributed in tiie county. 

 The others are of somewhat local distribution or else 

 seasonal visitors. Another species, the Ortolan Bunting, 

 has occurred once at Trcscoe Abbey, Scilly, in autumn, but 

 has never been detected in Devonshire. Three more 

 s[)ecies, the Black-headed, Rustic, and Little Buntings, 



