CROSSBILL 73 
ingan, Lezayre, and he adds, ‘ The birds were seen constantly 
about Skyhill for the next three years.’ 
The same observer records a small flock in Ballacowle 
Glen, close to Ramsey, seen January 1898 and onward to 
8th April in the same year, ‘ feeding on larch and fir-cones, 
but this spring’ (?1899, when the article was written, or 
1901, when it was revised and published) ‘ they disappeared 
from there.’ From the time of year of these occurrences, 
it seems very likely that the Crossbill has bred in Man. 
On 17th July 1901 Mr. W. T. Crennell found a living 
specimen, in dull yellowish green plumage and with damaged 
wing, on a road in the outskirts of Ramsay, at a very short 
distance from the woods mentioned above. He gave this 
bird to Mr. Graves, who has contributed the following notes 
upon it :— 
‘ At the time I received it, 5th August 1901, I took it for 
a young bird. The colour was a dull brownish green, dark 
on the back and light on the throat, breast, and belly; the 
throat feathers having dark centres giving the appearance 
of broken stripes. The rump was a much brighter green. 
At the end of a year the plumage was little changed, 
the feathers generally being a little greener, with greyish 
edges, and the rump still brighter in tint; the throat 
plumage still striped. The call-note, often repeated until it 
becomes wearisome, is loud and clear, but not (as Seebohm 
says) shrill; it may be rendered “ Zip, zip, zip, zip.” The 
song is very pleasing, but without much variation ; it is low, 
resembling somewhat at times the low part of the Starling’s 
song, and at others reminding one rather of that of the Bull- 
finch. In captivity at least it sings much better than it has 
the credit of doing. All food of any size is carried in the 
beak to a perch, against which it is secured by the claws of 
both feet. A nut is then slowly picked to pieces, the hard 
tongue assisting in a great degree. A fir-cone is attacked in 
