. British birds. Birds. OTES. CROSSBILLS BREEDING IN SUFFOLK FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION. It is gratifying to see Mr. C. S. Meares's note on the Crossbill {Loxia c. curvirostra) breeding in Shropshire and Norfolk {British Birds, Vol. VI., p. 371), and to find that it has also bred in Surrey {Countryside, Vol. V., p. 387). There can be no doubt as to the authenticity of the latter record, as the time, position and materials of the nest are quite- typical. The above records, in conjunction with my experience given below, further strengthens my contention that the Crossbill must now be rank
. British birds. Birds. OTES. CROSSBILLS BREEDING IN SUFFOLK FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN SUCCESSION. It is gratifying to see Mr. C. S. Meares's note on the Crossbill {Loxia c. curvirostra) breeding in Shropshire and Norfolk {British Birds, Vol. VI., p. 371), and to find that it has also bred in Surrey {Countryside, Vol. V., p. 387). There can be no doubt as to the authenticity of the latter record, as the time, position and materials of the nest are quite- typical. The above records, in conjunction with my experience given below, further strengthens my contention that the Crossbill must now be ranked as a resident breeding species in England. On January 20th, 1913, I received information of Cross- bills having been seen in three separate parts of Sujffolk, all apparently paired, one flock of sixteen, one of eight, and one of four. On March 15th young birds were seen. I accordingly paid a visit to the district on March 16th, and though I spent two whole days in search of the birds I did not see or hear one: but I found in two widely separated parts plenty of evidence of Crossbills in the form of very recently worked pine-cones. Just after my visit I received information of a nest with four eggs. Unfortunately I was unable to go and inspect the nest in situ, but both nest and eggs were forwarded to me for inspection, which left no doubt as to the authenticity, both being quite typical. This nest was situated in a Scotch pine, nine feet only from the ground and on the side of a high road. When the nest was visited a second time the bird was on and refused to leave the tree. In conversation with a keeper whom I had not previously met, I was informed that Crossbills were seen every autumn during the game-driving; he knew the birds quite well. P. F. BmSTYAED. [With reference to the Countryside record quoted above, it should be stated that the birds were apparently not seen, and that the eggs are merely described as being very much like those of a Greenfinch. Apparently no comp
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