The Scottish Naturalist. 
Abundant in all the birch-woods in flocks of considerable size. 
A flock of fully IOC fed daily on the catkins of the birches in 
front of the house we occupied. No diminution in their 
numbers could be detected up to the time T left (9th 
September), and the people about the place said they were 
seen all through the winter. Eggs that had been taken in 
the neighbourhood were shown to me. 
34. Linota flavirostris (Twite). 
Only seen on three occasions, twice on the boggy moor behind 
Feshiebridge, and once on a bit of similar ground at the 
head of Loch Garten. 
35. Pyrrhula europsea (Bullfinch). 
To one accustomed to live in a district where the Bullfinch is 
almost a rarity, it was very pleasing to meet with parties of 
from four to five, up to twice that number, several times a day. 
Though seen in both the birch-woods and the pine-woods^ I 
consider they were most numerous in the former. 
36. Loxia curvirostra (Crossbill). 
This interesting bird was constantly met with in the pine-woods 
in flocks of from seven or eight up to twenty or thirty. There 
were never more than from one to three red birds in a flock. 
In addition to the cones of the firs, larches and pines, I noticed 
that the galls on the twigs of the spruce — which Professor 
Trail informs me are the work of Chennes Abietis (an Aphis) 
— were eagerly attacked. The Crossbill, as is well known, 
breeds very early in the year. I was, therefore, greatly sur- 
prised to see two young ones, which, to all appearance, could 
not have been more than ten days to a fortnight out of the 
nest, being fed by their parents on 4th September. This was 
in the forest near Carrbridge. An incessant peetoiv, peefozv, 
peet, peetow, peepeet^ from the thick branches of a Scotch-fir 
attracted my attention, and I soon discovered that the petu- 
lant chirping proceeded from two young Crossbills hopping 
from branch to branch after the old birds from whom they 
were continually receiving food. The way in which they 
opened their bills to be fed, at the same time quivering their 
wmgs, and, indeed, their whole behaviour and appearance 
pointed to their extreme youth. They never made the 
slightest attempt to feed themselves. 
■37. Emberiza citrinella (Yellow Hammer). 
