BIRDS. 



295 



that the Crossbills left their old nesting-ground near the Little 

 Ferry, and, after an absence of some six or eight years, returned 

 in 1894. 



Although common in Glen Urquhart as long ago as 1865, 

 Muirhead could not ascertain that they bred there at that date, 

 though he looked for the nest : they appeared to leave about April 

 and return in October. Writing from the same place in 1882, Mr. 

 A. Craig remarks that * they have been known to occur at intervals 

 for many years, but lately have taken up their abode permanently, 

 although disappearing now and again for a short time, when it is 

 believed they retire to the higher and more distant pine woods in 

 search of food. Beyond all doubt they are now breeding freely 

 there, as in March and April numerous flocks, composed chiefly of 

 young birds, fly about — uniting in autumn and winter — as many 

 as sixty or seventy' {Proceedings^ Royal Physical Society^ 15th March 

 1882). Mr. Craig gives a very interesting account in the same 

 place of their manner of feeding, etc. 



Sheriff Mackenzie writes us that a pair of Crossbills in his pos- 

 session were taken with the nest bodily out of the tree, and brought 

 nearer and nearer the capturer's house each day, the old cock (1) 

 alone following and feeding them, even when the nest was at last 

 put into a cage ; the hen (?) was seen about, but never feeding the 

 young. 



The late Dr. Aitken wrote us, about 1880, that the Cro<>hill was 

 getting rather common near Inverness at that time. 



With the immense amount of planted area along the ca>t of 

 Ross-shire, it is not surprising to find this bird so numerous, and 

 it has spread, no doubt, from the coast-line, as we know it has, by 

 their following up the glens and straths wherever the trees were 

 suitable for nesting or food. It occurs at Guisachan up Strath 

 Glass, and also at Fairburn, etc. etc. 



The first Crossbill's eggs taken in Scotland were procured in our 

 present area, so far as records guide us, in 1854, and were sent to 

 Hancock. They were procured by the before-mentioned Macdonald, 

 who lived near Balnagown, and who supplied us with eggs for our 

 own collection in 1868. In 1850 Hancock and St. John found a 

 nest near the Findhorn, from which the young had just flown, and 

 which they saw^ sitting on a tree close by the nest. 



As early as the date of Mr. Hoy's notes we have it recorded : — 



