FRINGILLINA. 201 
THE CROSSBILL. 
L6OxIA CURVIROSTRA, Linnzus. 
In England the Crossbill is generally noticed from autumn to 
spring, in family parties which sometimes unite to form flocks ; but 
numerous instances are known in which this essentially nomadic 
species has bred among conifers, even in the southern and eastern 
counties, although such situations as its habits require are less 
frequent there than in the north. From the Lake district upward 
it nests in many localities, chiefly in the old pine-forests of Scotland; 
but it seldom strays to the Outer Hebrides, and is an uncertain 
visitor to the Orkneys, though of regular occurrence in the Shetlands. 
In Ireland it has been found breeding in many counties, owing to 
the increase of fir plantations of late years. Throughout the British 
Islands it occurs irregularly on migration, from July onward. 
R 
