Occasional 
visitant. 
Food. 
252 PASSERES. LOXIA. ComMMoN 
Crossbill, or Sheld Apple, Br. Zool. 1. No. 115. t.49.—Arct. Zool. 2. No.208. 
—Will. (Ang.) p. 248. t. 44.—Lath. Syn. 3. p. 106. 1.—Lewin’s Br. Birds, 
2. t. 66.—Mont. Orrith. Dict. v. 1.—Albvin. 1. t. 61.— Wale. Syn. 2. t. 2050 
—Pult. Cat. Dorset. p. 11.—Bewick’s Br. Birds, 1. p. t. 130.—Shaw’s 
Zool. v. 9. p. 231. t. 41. 
The visits of this curious and interesting species to our 
shores are at irregular periods, sometimes at an interval of 
many years. During the summer of 1821, this kingdom was 
visited by immense flocks of these birds, that-spread them- 
selves through the country, and were to be seen in all woods 
and plantations where the fir-tree was abundant. Their first 
appearance was early in June, and the greater part of the 
flocks seemed to consist of females, and the young of the 
year, (the males possessing the red plumage, assumed from 
the first moult to the end of that year). Many of the fe- 
males that I killed shewed plainly, from the denuded state of 
their breasts, that they had been engaged in incubation some 
time previous to their arrival; which circumstance agrees 
with the account given of the early period at which they 
breed in the higher latitudes. They continued with us till 
towards the autumn, but kept moving northward, as I found 
them, in September, particularly abundant in ail the fir tracts 
of Scotland, after they had nearly disappeared to the south. 
ward of the River Tweed. Since that time we seem not to 
have been revisited by these birds; at least none have come 
under my observation. In the southern parts of the king- 
dom, during their occasional visits, they commit great havoc, 
in the apple and pear orchards, by splitting the fruit m 
halves, for the sake of the inclosed pips.—Their principal 
support, however, is derived from the seeds of the various 
firs, which they easily obtain by the lateral expansion of their 
bil, when inserted between the scales of the cone. 
The manners of these birds are interesting when in a state 
of confinement (to which they become speedily accustomed), 
as they strongly resemble the parrot tribe in climbing along 
the wires of the cage in any direction, by means of their bill 
and claws. The call-notes of the Crossbill are a kind of 
