Class II. CROSS-BILLED GROSBEAK. 427 



" I know but one certain instance of their 

 breeding in England, and that on a pine-tree 

 within two miles of Dartford in Kent. The 

 nest, about the size of a blackbird's, was made 

 on the lowest fork of the tree, composed of 

 dried twigs of a loose texture ; however, no eggs 

 were laid, for from the too great curiosity of 

 frequent observers the birds forsook it. A fe- 

 male shot at Erith, in August 1791, was bare 

 on the breast, a circumstance common to sit- 

 ting birds. In July 1791, Mr. Lezvin shewed 

 me two of these old birds, a male and female, 

 shot in his garden, as also one young bird; 

 three or four other young birds were still about 

 his garden. Some authors inform us that the 

 eggs are four or five in number, yellowish 

 white, tinged with brown, with small red dots, 

 most numerous at the larger end. I saw at 

 Colonel Woodford's one of these birds in a 

 cage : he had had it for some time. It sung very 

 prettily, the note somewhat like that of the 

 bulfinch." J..L. 



