134 
BIRDS. 
species has a place in Shearer and Osborne's List, 1862. 
We ourselves have no great faith in the specific distinction 
of the parrot crossbill. 
loi. Loxia curvi rostra, i. Crossbill. 
Eesident ; breeding in the large fir-woods in the south-east of 
the county ; in some years they are more abundant than in 
others, as was the case in the year 1881. As early as 1849 
St. John speaks of the crossbill as becoming numerous. 
At Eosehall they were only common for a short time about 
fifty years ago ; after that they entirely disappeared, as we 
are informed by Mr. Macleay, who was a lad at the time, 
and saw them then. 
Obs. — Specimens sent us, male and female, shot near Tain, on 
17th January 1886, as specimens of Loxia pityo'psittams 
cannot be referred to any other species than the last, though 
they have certainly large stout bills and the characteristics 
of the so-called parrot crossbill. These birds, sent by 
Sheriff Mackenzie, are now in our collection at Dunipace. 
A casual visitor to the county, most frequently arriving about 
the latter end of August or the beginning of September, 
when the berries of the mountain ash are ripe (0. MSS., 
1868). 
I02. Loxia leucoptera, Gmel. European White-winged 
Crossbill. 
[Ohs. — In a sale catalogue of a collection of British birds on 
12th, 13th, and 14th May, at Milligan Hall, Taunton, 
Somerset, by Messrs. Wottonand Co., Taunton, 1874, which 
catalogue is in our library, occurs the item : Lot 263 (2d 
day's sale), "A pair of European white-winged crossbills 
(from the collection of Dr. Seeley, Sutherlandshire)," p. 15. 
Part of this collection only was sold, and the rest withheld 
