Grosbeaks and Crossbills. 



75 



(Loxia coecothraustes) , is quite common in the country 

 around Eoss. Captain Manly Power, of Hill Court, tells me 

 lie has noticed several of them upon the trees in his park, 

 and the E.ev. W. Tweed, of Bridstow, has also repeatedly 

 seen them in his ornamental grounds, one specimen having 

 been obtained and preserved by him. The severe weather 

 may account for the numbers recently observed, in one of 



CBOSSBILIi. 



two ways — either that being a winter visitant its 

 severity has sent more of them into our island, or the 

 bird being shy — for it is one of the shyest of the Finch 

 family — the hard times had tamed, and brought it down 

 from the tops of high trees, — its usual perching-place, — 

 and so closer to the observing eye. Though generally 

 supposed to be migratory, there is reason to believe that 

 a few pairs breed in this neighbourhood, and remain with 



