females. I saw a very fine Crossbill lately that had been obtained in the valley between Newbury and Theale, where these birds are to be found most years among the fir-clumps on the higher lying commons. It is said to breed in many of the Southern Counties, but there is no reliable evidence of its doing so in the Midlands. In Scotland it nests in districts where are old pine forests, building a cup-shaped structure of dry grass, moss, and wool, which is placed on twigs, and these on the branch of a fir, close to the stem. From fir-cones their food is extracted, but in the autumn, berries and apple pips are taken, an old name for the Crossbill being Shell-apple. Many years ago great damage was done to some apple orchards by the boring of fruit to extract the pips. Although usually a winter visitant, the late Lord Lilford reported having seen large numbers of these birds during the month of June in a district of North Devon. The forest-folk of Thuringia are fond of them as caged pets, considering that they bring luck to the house, and also cure the diseases of the family--if the mandibles cross left to right, those of the females, if from right to left, those of the males. I would not now keep any bird in a cage, but I once kept many; and the most amusing of all these was a Crossbill, who had a large wired-off compartment to himself, between one containing a number of avadavats, and another inhabited by Redpoles, Siskins and other birds. He loved to tear open the shells of almonds to get at the nuts. When the little avadavats had gone to sleep, nestling together for warmth, the old Crossbill would sidle up, looking very wicked, and quickly lift the end of their perch. Down fell the small things, master Crossbill watching them with unmistakable delight. At last he made so much commotion amongst the lesser birds that we made a present of him to Mr. Denham Jordan, who wrote an amusing memoir of him which was headed “Crossbill Turk.” The Crossbill is 6·5 inches in length. The back and underparts of the old male bird are red, the rump fiery red; wings and tail dark olive-brown; the back of the female is grey, rump greenish-yellow. The upper beak is curved downwards, the under one upwards, inclined to one side, with sharp points. The tips of the beaks cross, sometimes to the right, sometimes to the left. This crossing of the two halves of the beak is the exclusive characteristic of this bird. It lays three to five greyish-white eggs spotted with shades of reddish-brown. The nest is found in fir trees, and sometimes in the birch. It is made of fine materials, is built very high up, and is well concealed. It nests in February. The nest therefore is very stout and well-lined, and the mother-bird sits continuously in order to preserve the warmth. CHAPTER V. SUMMER WORKERS. THE WRYNECK. (_Iynx torquilla._)