bitant of thofe frigid regions ; from whence it migrates to moft 
of the Northern parts of Europe, Afia, and America ; its 
vifits to this country are very irregular, in fome feafons it 
has been obferved in large flocks, in others fcarcely a folitary 
bird is to be met with thro-jgh the whole kingdom. We 
noticed feveral in a large fir plantation, near Leath-Hill, 
Surrey, in 1807. From Montague's Ornithological Dict- 
ionary we learn, the female builds as early as January; fhe 
places her neft under the bare branches of the pine-tree, fixing 
it with the refinous matter which exudes from that tree, and 
befmearing it on the outfide with the fame fubftance, fo that 
no rain or fnow can penetrate it." 
In fome years thefe birds are very injurious to our apple- 
orchards, as a flock fornetimes alights on a tree foon after day- 
break, and will entirely ftrip it of its fruit in a fhort time ; it 
is the more dlftrudive as it is only the feeds or kernels that it 
confumes, to get at which, it cuts or fcrapes away the pulp ; 
from this circumflance it derives the common appellation of 
Shel-Apple. 
