33 BRITISH BIRDS. 



1766, in Ms 'British Zoology' (p. 106). He received a male and female 

 ''out of Shropshire." Upwards of a score examples of this bird have 

 since Pennant's day been taken in our islands. Most of these specimens 

 have been captured in England, a few in Scotland, and one in Wales. 



The typical form of the Crossbill breeds in most of the pine-forests of 

 the Palsearctic Region, in Norway occasionally ranging north of the 

 Arctic circle, but in North Russia not ranging above lat. 64°, and in Asia 

 probably not above lat. 62°. It breeds in the Pyrenees, the Alps, and 

 the Carpathians, and probably also in the Urals j but it has not been 

 recorded from the Caucasus. It is said to be a resident in the Balearic 

 Islands, and in the Atlas Mountains in Algeria. It has not been recorded 

 from Persia or Turkestan, nor did Finsch or Tancre's collector find it in the 

 Altai Mountains. It certainly breeds in Kamtschatka, and probably also 

 in other pine-regions in Eastern Siberia. In winter it is a very irregular 

 migrant to most parts of Europe, having been obtained in Denmark, 

 Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, and Greece; but Sharpe and 

 Dresser's statement, which Newton * appears to have copied, that Dr. 

 Kriiper found its nest in the Parnassus, is probably based on a mis- 

 translation. Eastwards it winters in South Siberia, North China, and 

 Japan, in which islands it is said to be very abundant ; but ornithologists 

 have omitted to say at what season of the year. 



The large form of the Common Crossbill, generally known as the Parrot 

 Crossbill, breeds principally in Scandinavia, the Baltic provinces, and 

 North Germany. It does not appear to wander far in winter; but at 

 this season it occasionally visits Denmark, Holland, France, Southern 

 Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. 



The Crossbill is one of the few migratory birds which do not 

 wander further from home in winter than the inclemency of the season 

 or the scarcity of food compels them. They have consequently been 

 called gipsy migrants— irregular visitors who may be very common one 

 year and very rare the next, sometimes coming early, sometimes late, 

 and sometimes not at all. They are preeminently gregarious birds. In 

 winter they wander about in large flocks ; and even in the breeding-season 

 small parties of males may be seen seeking food in company. They are 

 very early breeders ; and fresh eggs are usually found in February and 

 March. Eggs have been taken in April and May ; but these are probably 

 laid by birds whose first nests have been destroyed by their numerous 

 enemies or by heavy falls of snow, and are not second broods, as some 

 ornithologists have supposed. If these birds are successful in rearing a 

 brood, the family-party appear at once to commence their gipsy Ufe. If 



* Professor Newton appears also to have copied Sharpe and Dresser's assertion that 

 Swinhoe found the Crossbill on the island of Formosa, a statement for which I am unable 

 to find any authority. 



