Vol. xxv.] 78 



not appear to migrate southwards, although its 

 distinctions had not been sufficiently long or well 

 known to enable one to dogmatise on this point. 



(2) The Continental Crossbill (Lowia curvirostra curvi- 



rostra) appeared to be a regular migrant in small 

 numbers to some part or other of this country , 

 generally arriving late in summer and departing 

 early in the year. Periodically it came in great 

 numbers and was to be found all over the British 

 Islands. 



(3) The authentic records of the nesting of the Crossbill 



in England and Wales were comparatively few and 

 far between, and it appeared that they were due to 

 individuals of the continental race settling down to 

 nest for a season, and occasionally for two, and then 

 disappearing. In Ireland the bird did. not seem 

 indigenous as a breeding species, although it had 

 become resident since the middle of last century 

 and especially since the great irruption of 1887-8. 

 Since 1905, however, it appeared to be decreasing 

 as a breeding-species. 



Mr. Witherby had not examined the records exhaustively, 

 but he had found that most of the authentic occurrences of 

 nesting had immediately followed well-marked irruptions. 

 For example : — An irruption in the autumn of 1821 was 

 followed by a nest in Suffolk in 1822, and a similar 

 irruption in 1828 was followed by two nesting records in 

 1829, while those of 1837-8 and 1838-9 were followed by 

 several nesting records, some authentic and others more or 

 less established, in the years 1838 and 1839. An invasion 

 in the autumn of 1855 was followed by breeding records in 

 Cumberland and Durham in 1856 ; those of 1867-8 and 

 1868-9 were followed by nesting in Co. Fermanagh in 1868, 

 the birds continuing there for many years, while there was a 

 nest recorded in 1869 in Northumberland. In the autumns 

 of 1887-8 and 1888-9 there were great movements of Cross- 

 bills, and from 1888 onwards the bird became established in 



