340 
CpMMON CROSSBILL. 
make in some places upon the crop of apples, by 
splitting the fruit in search of the pips or seeds. 
Mr Yarrell has been at pains to search out some 
of the earlier records, and from him we learn 
that they were noticed in 1254 and 1593, parti- 
cularly in the latter year, on account of the 
above mentioned havoc in the orchards. Since 
these records, similar observations have been 
made ; and at various intervening periods, up to 
the present time, flocks have been seen in Eng- 
land, Wales, and Scotland, frequenting some 
particular locality ; of later years these appear- 
ances have either become more frequent, or the 
attention which is given to ornithology, with 
the numerous periodicals, &c. to which the 
occurrence of such flocks is communicated, has 
made them appear so. We are, however, inclined 
to believe the former, and in the south of Scot- 
land, at least, where an immense extent of young 
pine timber has been planted, within thirty years, 
the Crossbill has undoubtedly become more 
common, and we know now remains through the 
year. Since 1829 and 1830, scarcely a year has 
passed without the English border and the 
southern counties of Scotland, being visited by 
flocks of Crossbills. In our own vicinity they 
were, however, rare, the first birds having been 
seen in 1836 ; next year, at the commencement 
of winter, a small flock appeared, and continued 
for some months ; and in the November follow- 
ing, (1838,) a party of from fifty to seventy 
returned, and have been seen every week up to 
