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probably breeds not far from there, as he shot some very young birds on the borders of the 

 Saima canal in the early summer. 



It is found in Northern and Central Russia ; but Mr. Sabanaeff writes that he is not aware if 

 it breeds in the interior of that country. He met with it in the Vologda Government, but does 

 not record it as observed as far east as the Ural ; and its range probably does not extend so far as 

 that mountain-range. Professor Kessler records it as rare near Kieff, though occurring almost 

 every year at various seasons, generally in the spring ; but Professor Bogdanoff does not include 

 it in his list of the birds of Kazan. Regarding its occurrence in Poland, Dr. L. Taczanowski 

 writes us from Warsaw as follows : — " This Crossbill comes to Poland for the winter, but not every 

 year. It arrives in September, and remains until February. In its habits it exactly resembles the 

 Common Crossbill, and differs chiefly in always frequenting pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests, and 

 feeding almost exclusively on the seeds of this conifer, whereas the other species frequents spruce 

 and larch woods. It is more phlegmatic and less wary than the Common Crossbill ; and when a 

 flock are busy searching for food on a pine tree, one can easily shoot down several in succession, 

 and the rest remain quietly, taking no notice of the reports of the gun." 



It is common in Esthonia and Livonia in the large pine-forests ; but throughout the North- 

 German Empire it is, according to Borggreve, very unequally distributed, and but seldom appears 

 in the western portion, except in the breeding-season. It has been found breeding in Thuringia, 

 whence Dr. Rey has procured eggs ; and that gentleman informs us that large flocks are annually 

 met with near Halle A. S., in October, frequenting the pine-woods. 



It is found in Denmark, and, according to Kjgerbolling, it is often taken by the bird-catcher 

 near Copenhagen. In the spring of 1849 he shot twelve at Thyrsbsek. Boje says that it occurs 

 regularly in Zeeland in August. 



De la Fontaine records it as accidental in Luxemburg, Professor Schlegel as very rare in 

 Holland ; and Mr. Labouchere writes to us that he can find but very few instances of its having 

 been seen in that country. Baron de Selys-Longchamps has not observed it in Belgium; but 

 Degland and Gerbe record the occurrence of an adult male in the forest of Bersee, about twenty- 

 three kilometres from Lille, this bird having been killed out of a flock of five or six individuals. 

 These gentlemen further state that it occurs but accidentally in France, though found more or 

 less regularly in Italy during the autumn. Savi records it from Padovano ; but otherwise we have 

 but meagre details respecting its occurrence in Italy. Neither Lindermayer nor Von der Miihle 

 records it from Greece, though Erhard speaks of it as found on the Cyclades in winter ; he may, 

 however, have mistaken large specimens of L. curvirostra for this species, as we have obtained 

 very large examples of the Common Crossbill from Greece through Dr. Kriiper. In Southern 

 Germany the Parrot Crossbill is occasionally found ; and Count Casimir Wodzicki met with it in 

 the Carpathians. Professor von Nordmann states that it breeds numerously in the mountains of 

 Ghouriel, in Southern Russia ; but we have been unable to examine specimens obtained so far to 

 the south-east. So far as we know, it has never been obtained in Asia Minor or south of the 

 Mediterranean. 



Like the Common Crossbill this bird is both resident and migratory, its absence or presence 

 depending on the scarcity or abundance of its chief food. It is a much heavier and slower bird 

 than the Common Crossbill, which it closely resembles in its habits, climbing about the pine 



