350 Banffshire Fawna. [APPENDIX. 
nually destroyed by gardeners and nursery-men, who believe that 
they are destructive. Yet their principal food consists of insects ; 
and insects are also the chief food for their young. I hope a bet- 
ter day will arrive for these lovely little birds, when they will be 
cherished and encouraged rather than hated and destroyed. The 
bullfinch is easily taught to whistle or to “ pipe” familiar tunes, 
Loxia curvivosrra [Zhe Cross-bill]. 
This bird is on the increase. They nest with us, and have done 
so for some years. There is a great diversity of color and size 
among them. 
Loxta prtyopsirracus [Parrot Cross-bill]. 
While walking one morning round the Whinhill, and just as I 
reached the south side, I was rather surprised at hearing the 
voice of what I knew to be a stranger. On looking to a low, 
bare wall, about three or four yards in front of me, I beheld, in 
all his pride and beauty, a male parrot cross-bill. This is the 
only instance, to my knowledge, of its existence among us. 
Loxra Levcoprera [ White-winged Cross-bill]. 
About fifty years ago, a large flock of these birds suddenly made 
their appearance on the “Castle trees,” in this neighborhood. 
Their strange appearance and gaudy plumage soon attracted 
notice, nearly the whole town flocking to see the “foreigners.” 
They appeared quite exhausted, many of them dropping from the 
trees, 
Srurnus vurearis [ The Starling]. 
The starling has been rapidly increasing of late years. At one time 
single starlings were rarely to be seen, whereas flocks of this 
bird now appear toward the close of every season. 
Srurnvs prepatorivs [The Red-winged Starling]. 
A pretty bird, which occasionally visits this county. 
Pastor RosEvs [Rose-colored Pastor]. 
This is another rare beauty, occasionally seen in this county. 
Corvus corax [The Raven]. 
A few of these birds inhabit the precipitous parts of the coast, 
where they breed in company with the falcon, kestrel, gull, guille- 
mot,etc. The raven will tame pretty well; it will talk hoarsely, 
and do mischievous tricks. 
Corvus corone [ Carrion-crow], and 
Corvus cornix [Hooded Crow]. 
Both occur in about equal numbers. See p. 243, 
