lively ? And why does not the allied StrohUophaga emideator vary in like manner ? I have seen many Parrot 
Crossbills, and consider them to be better distinguished from the common species than are the greater and 
smaller European Bullfinches of the French, the former of which is the true Loxia jnjrrliula of LinnEeus, and 
the latter, of course, the Pyrrhulu vulgaris of Ray.” To these remarks of Mr. Blyth I may add that the 
Parrot Crossbill differs far more widely from tbe common species than that bird does from any of the smaller 
members of the genus, even from L. mcxicana. Independently of its larger size, its much thicker, shorter, 
and deeper bill, it never, in my opinion, assumes so deep a red colouring as L. curvirostra. Mr. Wheelwright 
has also suggested that in some instances the male assumes the red plumage immediately after the first moult, 
without any intermediate yellow livery ; and this suggestion is partly confirmed by the condition of a specimen, 
in its striped dress, now before me, and shot, in the end of July 1860, in Wermland. In this example, 
the red feathers are appearing both on the cheeks and on the upper part of the back ; and if there be any 
value in the law of representation, I may state that I have seen similarly coloured specimens oi L. mexkana. 
In the British Islands the Parrot Crossbill bas never been known to breed ; and its occurrence among us 
is so unfrequent and uncertain that it may be regarded, not only as one of our rarest birds, but as one which 
we cannot look for with the certainty of finding it. If the forests bordering the Spey and the Dee be dili- 
gently searched, the chanees Eire that the common species may be observed ; but years may elapse before a 
Parrot Crossbill would be met with. Still there are loo many instances of its occurrence on record for me 
to enumerate half of them in the present work. PennEint first brought the bird under the notice of 
English ornithologists, tw^o specimens having been sent to him from Shropshire about 1776; since that 
time, I believe, it has only been found once in Ireland and twice in Scotland : on the other hand, many 
instances of its occurrence in England are on record ; and perhaps greater numbers have been obtained 
witbin fifty mdes of the metropolis than elsewhere. Dr. Bree states that three specimens, obtained near 
Coicbester, were brought to him in the flesh, on the 21st of February 1862; and Mr. Bond has received 
recently killed specimens wdthin the last year or two. Mr. Alfred Newton has recorded, in the ‘ Zoologist ’ 
for 1851, the occurrence of a specimen of this bird near Riddlesworth Hall, in Norfolk, several years previously. 
He also mentions that he had obtained another, shot at Saxham, in Suffolk, in November 1850. From him 
I further learn that during the past winter (1863-64) several have been killed near Brandon, on the 
borders of these two counties, a couple of which, both males, are in the possession of E. C. Newcome, Esq. 
On the Continent, as in England, this species is far from being abundant. Tbe countries in which it 
is most frequently found are Germany, Russia, Sweden, and Norway. Its extreme northern range does 
not seem to be known with accuracy ; but Mr. A. Newton tells me he has received a single nest from Kyrc , 
on the Kemi River, in Lapland, about bit. 68”. It has eiIso been taken in Holland, Belgium, and France ; 
but in those countries, as in Britain, it must be regarded as an accidental visitor. 
With respect to its nidification, Mr. Wheelwright, who has observed it in Sweden, states that “ the nests of 
both the Common and Parrot Crossbills are almost Invariably placed in a small pine, near the top, close to 
the stem, never in a deep forest, but always on a stony rise, Avhere the pines are small and wide apart. 
The Parrot Crossbill generally goes to nest a little later than the Common one. By the middle or end of 
April the young birds are strong fliers, and we never find a nest with eggs after that month. The nests of 
both species are very much alike ; but that of the Parrot Crossbill is thicker and larger than the other ; it 
is built outwardly of dry sticks and with moss of two kinds, and lined ^vith shreds of the inner bark of the 
fir tree, with here and there a feather or two. The eggs of the Parrot Crossbill are often scarcely larger 
than those of the Common species ; but they are usually shorter, and their markings are of a bolder character. 
Their full number appears to be three ; for we very rarely find four in a nest.” They are greenish ash- 
colour, stained with spots of a pinkish hue, amidst which are a few others of dark umber-brown. 
I am indebted to Dr. Bree for the loan of the three specimens killed near Colchester : they differ from all 
others I have seen — in the females being of a more sordid or dark greenish olive — and particularly from the 
one figured on the accompanying Plate ; the male is also less brilliantly coloured, the feathers being dull 
red, intermingled with which are patches of sordid yellow. 
The young very elosely resemble the young of the Common Crossbill, figured on my Plate of that species. 
When they are able to leave the nest and sit upon a branch, the mandibles are just beginning to cross, and 
are of a purplish flesh-colour ; the feathers of both the upper and under surface are striated with brown 
down the centre, and have greyish margins, except those of the breast, back, and rump, which are washed 
with yellow ; the incipient primaries are dark brown, slightly margined with tawny. 
Those who may wish for a minute anatomical description of the remarkable bills of these birds may 
consult with advantage the interesting paper on that of the Common species, with woodcut illustrations, 
given by Mr. Yarrell, and which is equally applicable to all tbe members of the genus. 
It will have been understood from the description of the changes of plumage given above, that the female 
is dressed in grey and dull yellow, while the male is more or less orange-red, according to age and 
circumstances. 
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the size of life. 
