Two-barred Crossbill

Fringillidae

Mar 25

Written By Keith Naylor

Loxia leucoptera (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (70, 1)

Photo © By David A Mitchell from Calgary, Canada - IMG_7971-157.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74730297

STATUS

Holarctic. Polytypic.

OVERVIEW

There were invasions of this species to the British Isles in the winters of 1845-46 and 1890-91.

A review was carried out with the results published in 2006 by the BOURC (Ibis, 149, p. 194) resulting in all records prior to 1st November 1845 being rejected for varying reasons.

This species is a larch-cone specialist.

RECORDS

1). 1845 Cumbria Cambeckhill Woods, near Brampton, female, shot, 1st November, now at Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Acc. No. NEWHM 2003.H2554).

(Hancock, 1874; J. T. T. Reed, Naturalist 13: 76; Macpherson, 1892; Howse, 1899; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657).

History Hancock (1874: 50) says: 'A female of this casual visitant was shot out of a flock of about fifteen, near Brampton, Cumberland, November, 1845; this specimen is in my collection. Two or three others were killed at the same time and place.'

J. T. T. Reed (1887) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XIII. p. 76, under 'Local Specimens of Rare Birds in the Museum at Newcastle-on-Tyne', says: 'White-winged Crossbill. Brampton, Cumberland, obtained November, 1845.'

Macpherson (1892: 145-146) says: 'The first notification of the appearance of this Crossbill in Lakeland was transmitted to the late T. C. Heysham in the following letter:

"Dear Sir, I take the liberty of addressing these few lines to you to inform you that I have had the good fortune to fall in with the White-winged Crossbill on the first inst. I had for some time observed about eight or ten Redpoles pass in the direction of Cambeckhill Woods. Thinking the Mealy Redpole might be among them, I followed and was fortunate enough to procure a fine female White-winged Crossbill. I did not observe any more. I think the others were all the lesser Redpole. I have the honour to be, sir, in haste, your obt. servant, Thomas Taylor. "Headswood, Nov. 8th, 45".

This bird appears to have been sent to the late Mr. Hancock. At all events Mr. Taylor pencilled on the margin of his copy of Sir W. Jardine's Birds of Great Britain the note: "Nov. 1st, 1845. I have shot the White-winged Crossbill". There can be little doubt that a flock of Two-barred Crossbills had previously arrived in the neighbourhood of Brampton. At any rate, individuals of this species were observed by others besides Mr. Taylor during the winter which ensued.'

Howse (1899: 33) in his Index-Catalogue of the Birds in the Hancock Collection, says: 'Case 48. No. 3 (right). Female. Brampton, Cumberland, Nov., 1845.'

First record is 1st November 1845 in Cumbria (BOURC (2006) Ibis 149: 194).

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, accept this as the first for Britain and state that this or another is at the Hancock Museum, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Acc. No. NEWHM 2003.H2554).

Comment I believe that this is the specimen in the Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (Acc. No. NEWHM 2003.H2554) as all of Hancock's specimen formed the basis of the museum collection.

2). 1845 Yorkshire Cowick, near Snaith, four: two males and two females, shot, 27th December.

(W. M. E. Milner, Zoologist 1847: 1694; Clarke & Roebuck, 1881; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657).

History W. M. E. Milner of Nunappleton, Tadcaster (1847) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. V. p. 1694, dated 30th March, 1847, says: 'The first is the White-winged Crossbill, of which a flock was seen in Lord Downes's park, Cowick, near Snaith; and four of them, two males and two females, were killed on the 27th of December, 1845, by Mr. C. Sumner, of Snaith, and are in the possession of Mr. Reid, bird-preserver, Doncaster.'

Accepted locally (Clarke & Roebuck 1881: 32; Nelson 1907 (1): 201) and by Mather (1986) who states that on 27th December 1845, two males and two females were claimed to have been shot from a flock at Cowick....

Comment Hugh Reid, taxidermist, Doncaster.

6). 1846 Cumbria Brampton, two, seen, 10th January.

(Macpherson, 1892; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657).

History Macpherson (1892: 146) says: 'Mr. Taylor observed two more of these Crossbills (he had last year secured a female) on the 10th of January [1846], on the 19th of which month a gamekeeper named Proud met with two specimens, one of which he shot, a bright red male. The other which escaped was in female plumage. February passed without event, although a watch was maintained for additional specimens.'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C, p. 655, accept this record.

Comment Macpherson (1892) stated eleven obtained altogether in Cumbria.

8). 1846 Cumbria Brampton, two, male, shot, 19th January.

(Macpherson, 1892; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657).

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, accept this record.

Comment Macpherson (1892) stated eleven obtained altogether.

10). 1846 Cumbria Castlesteads, nine, shot, 25th March, male and female now at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle (Acc. No. CALMG: 1927.42.1 & CALMG: 1927.42.18).

(J. Cooper, Zoologist 1846: 1551; J. B. Hodgkinson, Zoologist 1847: 1638; H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1873: 3778; Harting, 1875; Yarrell, 1871-85; Eds., Field 24th Sep., 1887: 486; J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1889: 415; H. A. Macpherson, Naturalist 16: 210; Macpherson, 1892; E. Blezard, Transactions of Carlisle Natural History Society 4: 30; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657).

History J. Cooper of Preston (1846) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IV. p. 1551, dated 12th October, 1846, says: 'Several specimens of the White-winged Crossbill have been killed in Cumberland, near Walton house, some ten miles east of Carlisle. I had two females sent me by T. C. Heysham, Esq., of Carlisle, for the purpose of preservation.'

James B. Hodgkinson of Preston (1847) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. V. p. 1638, dated 28th November 1846, says: 'I saw male and female adult birds of this species, and a young male bird, that were shot by Mr. Thomas Bond, of Swinstead House, near Brampton, Cumberland; he succeeded in shooting nine specimens, I believe five males and four females, in company with the Common Crossbill. The occurrence of this rare species may be interesting to some of your ornithological readers, which induces me to forward the information.'

Yarrell (1856: 20, 2nd supp.) mentions one loaned to him by Mr. Henry Doubleday that was killed from a small flock near Carlisle.

H. Stevenson of Norwich (1873) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. VIII. p. 3778, under 'Memoir of the late Thomas Dix', in a footnote, says: 'As British-killed specimens, perhaps the rarest in his collection were a pair of European White-winged Crossbills (Loxia bifasciata), the male killed near Thetford, in Norfolk, the female near Carlisle, presented to him by Mr. Doubleday, having been previously figured by Yarrell. These, with a fully adult Rough-legged Buzzard, trapped on Thetford Warren, have, at his special request, passed into my collection.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 213, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: '...Of these last, two were lent for the use of this work by Capt. Johnson of Walton House.'

In an Editorial (1887) in The Field of 24th Sep., Vol. LXX. p. 486, they say: 'On the 12th inst. Messrs. Spelman sold by auction, at Norwich, the collection of Norfolk birds formed by Mr. H. Stephenson [Stevenson], the well-known ornithologist. Among the buyers were Mr. T. Southwell, representing the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, and Mr. Tuke, representing the Saffron Walden Museum. Among the principal lots sold during the day the following may be mentioned: a pair of White-winged Crossbills, the male killed in Suffolk, and noted in Yarrell, and the female in Cumberland, £7.17.6d. (Mr. Southwell).'

J. E. Harting (1889) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIII. p. 415, on Frederick Bond's bird collection, says: 'In the autumn of 1845 several small flocks or family parties of the Two-barred Crossbill, Loxia bifasciata, appeared in Cumberland, and ten or a dozen were shot in the neighbourhood of Brampton (Zoologist, 1846, p. 1551, and 1847, p. 1638).

Of these some were secured and preserved by Mr. T. C. Heysham, of Carlisle, and besides those traced by Mr. Macpherson (Birds of Cumberland, p. 52) to the collections of Messrs. Doubleday, Dix, Stevenson, and John Hancock, two, both female birds, were sent by Heysham to Bond, in whose collection they now are (Case 130), with a pair of the Parrot Crossbill, Loxia pityopsittacus [sic], from Christchurch, Hants, March, 1862, and an adult male of the last-named species shot near Lymington, Hants, in March, 1843, out of a flock of eleven birds.'

H. A. Macpherson (1890) in The Naturalist, Vol. XVI. p. 210, under 'Auction Sale of North of England rarities', dated 24th May 1890, says: 'The sale of Mr. Whitaker's duplicates at Stevens', Covent Garden, May 22nd, 1890, included a few scarce specimens from the northern counties of England, particulars of which may be useful. Cumberland. Lot 31, including two female Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia bifasciata), 1846.'

Macpherson (1892: 146) adds: 'On the 25th of March a gardener named Leslie, lately deceased, observed a flock of these Crossbills fly into some tall larches at Castlesteads, since cut down. He fired into them and dropped nine birds; five of their companions flew away scatheless. These lingered a short time longer in the vicinity, because a MS. note of the late Mr. Proud chronicles the fact that he heard the note of the White-winged Crossbill on the 11th of April.

It is hardly necessary perhaps to detail here the subsequent history of all the specimens obtained. I have examined the greater number. Curiously enough, only two of the eleven specimens preserved had assumed the red plumage of the adult male. Of these males one is preserved at Edenhall. The other, a very beautiful bird, is retained by the Proud family.

James Cooper received from T. C. Heysham two female birds, of which he says, in a letter dated April 6th, 1846, "Of course I examined them when skinned, and they both proved to be females. The one worst mauled was somewhat indistinct, but the other was quite perfect, though the germ was very small, not much larger than herring roe. They had no appearance of having bred lately, nor in my opinion were they likely to breed for some time".'

Ernest Blezard (1943) in the Transactions of the Carlisle Natural History Society, Vol. VI. p. 30, says: '...it is the only known occurrence of this rare wanderer since the winter of 1845-46 when, as Macpherson records, there was a flock in North Cumberland. Two of the birds obtained in that winter came with the Edenhall Collection to the Carlisle Museum.'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 656, accept this record as two specimens are extant at Tullie House Museum, Carlisle (Acc. No. CALMG: 1927.42.1 & CALMG: 1927.42.18).

19). 1846 Suffolk Drinkstone, near Bury St Edmunds, three, all shot, May.

(C. B. Hunter, Zoologist 1846: 1498; C. R. Bree, Zoologist 1849: 2419; Stevenson, 1866; H. Stevenson, Zoologist 1873: 3778; Yarrell, 1871-85; Babington, 1884-86; Eds., Field 24th Sep., 1887: 486; Southwell, 1890; Ticehurst, 1932).

History C. B. Hunter of Downham (1846) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IV. p. 1498, dated 23rd August, 1846, says: 'Four or five of these birds were observed on some fir-trees near Thetford, in Norfolk, on the 10th of May last; one of which was shot, and came into the possession of Mr. Robert Reynolds, bird-fancier, of Thetford. About a week before this, Mr. Reynolds purchased a specimen of a bird-stuffer, at Bury St Edmunds, which had just been set up, and was obtained in that neighbourhood.'

C. R. Bree of Stowmarket (1849) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VII. p. 2419, dated March 1849, says: 'A specimen of this bird was shot by the Rev. E. Burt, at Drinkstone, a few years ago. It was one of a small flock which was feeding on fir-cones.'

Stevenson (1866 (1): 242) in a footnote, adds: 'One bird in Mr. Doubleday's collection, was presented by him to Mr. Dix, of West Harling, who still preserves the specimen.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 213, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'In May 1846, two or three were killed from a flock at Drinkstone, near Bury St Edmund's in Suffolk (Zool., pp. 1498, 2419), one of which is in Mr. Gurney's possession and a second, received at the time by Heysham, passed from him with one of the Cumberland specimens to Doubleday and thence to Mr. Stevenson's possession (Zool., s.s. p. 3778, note).'

Further, in a footnote, he adds: 'From the fact of two of the specimens having been sent to a bird-stuffer at Thetford, the neighbourhood of that town was inferred to have been the locality where they were obtained. The Editor well remembers them in his hands.'

Babington (1884-86: 234-235) says: 'One male went into the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. (Lubbock's Fauna of Norfolk); another male passed to Mr. Dix who gave it to Mr. Stevenson, and is now at the Castle Museum, Norwich, the third bird went into C. R. Bree's collection (C. R. Bree in litt.) and is now at the Yorkshire Museum, York. The report by Mr. Hunter (Zool. 1498) referring to some at Thetford is the same as this flock at Drinkstone; two of these specimens were sent to Thetford for preservation [Reynolds] and that is where the confusion arose.'

Babington mentions another shot at Whepstead (Bilson MS.), but Ticehurst (1932) p. 84, says of the record, that there is no further information, but it may refer to the above as this village is not far from Drinkstone. Also, he adds: '...three were obtained in May 1846 at Drinkstone (male, Gurney's Collection; male, Norwich Museum; one York Museum, ex Bree).'

In an Editorial (1887) in The Field of 24th Sep., Vol. LXX. p. 486, they say: 'On the 12th inst. Messrs. Spelman sold by auction, at Norwich, the collection of Norfolk birds formed by Mr. H. Stephenson [Stevenson], the well-known ornithologist. Among the buyers were Mr. T. Southwell, representing the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, and Mr. Tuke, representing the Saffron Walden Museum. Among the principal lots sold during the day the following may be mentioned: a pair of European White-winged Crossbills, the male killed in Suffolk, and noted in Yarrell, and the female in Cumberland, £7.17s.6d. (Mr. Southwell).'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 413) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix D' (species discarded from the Norfolk List), says: 'Professor Newton has shown (Yarrell's British Birds, 4th edition, II. p. 213) that the specimen of this bird, on which Mr. Stevenson relied for its claim as a Norfolk species, was really killed at Drinkstone, near Bury St. Edmund's, in Suffolk.'

22). c. 1846 Essex/Greater London Epping Forest, immature, shot, undated.

(Yarrell, 1856; Yarrell, 1871-85; Christy, 1890; Swann, 1893; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984; Self, 2014).

History Yarrell (1856: 20, 2nd supp.) says: 'Mr. Henry Doubleday has also favoured me with the loan of three others: one shot by himself in his own garden at Epping, a young bird; a second killed at Thetford; and the third in the vicinity of Carlisle, where a small flock of six or seven made their appearance, several of which were obtained.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 213, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, says: 'Somewhere about the same time [1846], it is believed, Doubleday shot a young bird in his own garden at Epping.'

Christy (1890: 126) says: 'This must have been between 1843, when the 2nd Vol. of Yarrell's 1st ed. was issued, without mention of this specimen, and 1856, when the 2nd supplement appeared....Harting (1872) p. 116, and others seem to accept this record without question, but Professor Newton appears to doubt it (see above)....No reference to this interesting specimen occurs (so far as Mr. Macpherson and myself have been able to discover) in Doubleday's letters to Heysham (100 letters dated between 1831-1846) which cover the above date. The specimen, however, was sold at Doubleday's sale in 1871 (? to whom), with seven Common Crossbills, for 36s.'

Comment A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 650-657, make no mention of this record. Henry Doubleday added the Little Ringed Plover and Blue-headed Wagtail to the British List. Born in 1808 at Epping the family business of general grocery, hardware and provisions came to him on his father's death in 1848, tying him to the home. Doubleday records (Zool., 1875, pp. 4429-38) that he shot a male Crossbill many years ago, but makes no mention of the Two-barred Crossbill in any of his published articles, one article in particular being a diary of birds throughout 1845 (Mullens & Swann,1917). So, locally it is acceptable and there it stays by a slender thread.

23). 1859 Shetland Halligarth, Unst, female and immature, shot, 4th September.

(Saxby, 1874; Yarrell, 1871-85; W. Evans, British Birds 3: 306; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Venables & Venables, 1955; Forrester & Andrews et al., 2007).

History Saxby (1874) says: 'Out of place in the present work though the name of this very rare bird may at first sight appear, I cannot but feel convinced that there are sufficient grounds for its insertion, although it is but lately I have arrived at this conclusion.

On the 4th of September 1859, the very year in which the appearance of a large flock near Banff was recorded in The Zoologist (1859, p. 6631) I observed several Crossbills in the garden at Halligarth, and succeeded in shooting two, but only after much difficulty, not only on account of the thickness of the foliage, but also from the unwillingness of the birds to come into view. Having no books with me, I registered them in my notes either as Two-barred Crossbills, or a very small variety of the common species.

A lad who was working in the garden told me that he had seen a very beautiful brightly-coloured bird, but I was unable to obtain even a glimpse of it, although the notes were often heard among the thick shrubs. The two that were shot proved to be a female and a young bird, very like specimens of the Common Crossbill, but with both greater and lesser wing-coverts tipped with white, forming two distinct bars upon each wing. The young bird was dingier in colour than the young of the Common Crossbill, but resembled it in the numerous dusky streaks upon the body; the female was of a brighter greenish colour, with a good deal of yellow about the plumage, especially at the lower part of the back. The measurements of both were precisely alike.

I place them in comparison with an average specimen of Loxia curvirostra, a bird which varies greatly in size.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 220, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Two white-winged Crossbills shot by Saxby at Halligarth in Unst, Sept. 4th, 1859, would seem from his partial description to have presented American characteristics. What became of the specimens the Editor does not know.'

William Evans (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 306, says: 'The fact that Saunders in the second edition of his Manual (Pt. 6, April, 1898) makes definite mention of only one occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) in Scotland, namely, an adult male shot on North Ronaldshay, in the Orkneys, on June 18th, 1894, has led to the supposition that up to that time there was no other authentic record from north of the Border (see British Birds, Vol. II. p. 423)....It may, I think, be safely assumed that the "White-winged Crossbill"...would also belong to the European form...and the same may be said of the two shot by Saxby in Unst on September 4th, 1859, and described in his Birds of Shetland, 1874, p. 115.'

Pennington et al. (2004) says: 'These two were shot by Henry Saxby at his house at Halligarth, Unst, Shetland. Saxby believed his specimens to be of the slightly smaller, nominate American race, but the supporting evidence was missing from the manuscript when it was edited by his brother and, despite other claims, this subspecies is not on the British List.'

Admitted nationally as the first for Scotland (Forrester & Andrews et al. 2007 (2): 1424).

25). 1866 Essex/Suffolk Dedham, immature male, shot, July.

(Christy, 1890; Glegg, 1929; Ticehurst, 1932; Hudson & Pyman, 1968; Cox, 1984; Wood, 2007).

History Christy (1890: 127) says: 'Mr. R. T. Cobbold of Dedham writes me as follows: - "In July, 1866, I observed six or eight small birds feeding among the tops of some spruce firs growing on my place here at Dedham. Having my gun with me, I tried for some time to get two or three in a line, but being pressed for time, as I had to catch a train, I had to take a quick shot, killing one only.

That it was a Crossbill was evident, but some white bars on the wings puzzled me, so I sent it off to my friend Capt. Haward, formerly of Bramford, but now of Little Blakenham, who is a good taxidermist, and who set it up for me. He informed me that it was a specimen of Loxia leucoptera, and asked for another if I could obtain one.

I afterwards learnt that they had been seen in some fir-plantations across the river in Suffolk, where they made a great litter below the trees, by pulling off the cone in order to eat the insects contained in the galls on their stalks.'

Unfortunately this specimen (which probably belonged to L. bifasciata, not to L. leucoptera) is not now in existence. Capt. Haward states that the moth so injured it that it was impossible to restore it, and it was destroyed. He describes it as "a male in immature plumage. The lower bars on the wings were much more distinct than the upper ones, which consisted of only a few white feathers. The rest of the plumage resembled that of the young of the common species.'

Ticehurst (1932: 84) erroneously says: 'July 1886.' and adds: '...afterwards seen on the Suffolk side of the Stour.'

Wood (2007: 56) states this as a new record for Suffolk.

26). c. 1875 Nottinghamshire Residence Gardens, Southwell, male, shot, undated, now at Mansfield Museum.

(J. Whitaker, Zoologist 1902: 353; Whitaker, 1907; H. F. Witherby, & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 247-248).

History J. Whitaker of Rainworth (1902) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 353, says: 'I was delighted to be able to add a new bird to the Nottinghamshire list, viz. the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata). When in Southwell (the smallest city in England, and which contains one of the most beautiful cathedrals), I called on Henry Schumach, the talented taxidermist.

I found him going over an old box of birds preserved by his late father, and amongst them at once "spotted" this rare British visitor. I asked him about it, and he said: "I remember it being shot very well by Mr. Emery, butler to the late Mr. Wyld, of Southwell. He saw it in some big old Scotch firs in the grounds, and shot it, and brought it to my father, to whom he gave it".

I then asked him why his father had never mentioned it to me or others. He said he thought it must have been an escaped cage-bird, so stuffed it to put in a case some time, but had never done so. He was at home when the bird was shot, and saw it in the flesh when brought in. I had a good look at it; the claws were sharp, and plumage good; legs a bit shattered by shot. I have secured it for my collection, and shall value it as a rare British bird.'

Whitaker (1907) says: 'One was shot in a fir tree in the Residence Gardens at Southwell, by George Emery about 1875. He took it directly to the late F. Schumach, the taxidermist, of Southwell, who preserved it and put it away. After his death it was given to me by his son who well remembered seeing t when it was brought to his father.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. pp. 247-248, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899', who say: 'A specimen was shot at Southwell some years ago and remained unidentified.'

Comment John Henry Schumach (1840-1869) and Henry Frederick Schumach (1861-1910) taxidermists of Southwell. According to Herriott (1968) this business had disappeared by 1873, so reading all of the above does not quite fit.

27). 1889 Yorkshire Easington, immature male, shot, 12th August.

(H. H. Slater, Naturalist 15: 314; Clifton, Field 7th Dec., 1889: 824; H. H. Slater, Zoologist 1890: 105; Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

History Henry H. Slater, Vicar of Irchester (1889) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XV. p. 314, says: 'I believe I have the pleasure, for the second time, of adding a new bird to the Yorkshire list. A Crossbill was shot near Easington in Holderness on August 12th of the present year, and was brought to Mr. Philip Loten. Being much injured by shot, it was not preserved; but a wing was put on one side, and shown to me later in the month.

I naturally recognised it as belonging to one of the White-winged Crossbills, and Mr. Loten recollected that the mandible left on the specimen (the other was shot away) was longer and slenderer than that of a Common Crossbill, and was laterally flattened. I have carefully compared it with the wings of my own specimens, and come to the conclusion that the bird was a young example of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata C. L. Brehm).

The wing measures 3.5in., and is exactly similar in size and colours to that of a specimen in my collection, obtained at Archangel by F. Carl Craemers. My American examples (L. leucoptera Gm.) are uniformly shorter in wing measurements, and the nearest in point of age is 3.3, the largest (an adult male) 3.35; in L. bifasciata, 3.5 to 3.72 (old male). [I am informed that this species has occurred in some numbers at Heligoland during the autumn, but I regret I have no further information on this interesting fact. - W.E.C.]

Lord Clifton of Kent (1889) in The Field of 7th Dec., Vol. LXXIV. p. 824, says: 'With reference to Mr. Douglas Brodie's letter in last weeks Field, I may inform him that on Aug. 12 an immature specimen of the Two-barred or European White-winged Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata, C. L. Brehm), was shot near Easington, in Holderness, Yorkshire.

They are also stated to have occurred in some numbers in Heligoland during the autumn.'

Accepted locally (Nelson 1907 (1): 201).

Comment W.E.C. = Wm. Eagle Clarke.

28). 1889 Lincolnshire South Cockerington, adult male, shot, September, now at National Museums of Scotland (NMSZ 1894.124).

(J. Cordeaux, Naturalist 16: 2; J. Cordeaux, Zoologist 1891: 363; Smith & Cornwallis, 1955; Lorand & Atkin, 1989).

History John Cordeaux of Great Cotes (1890) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. XVI. p. 2, dated 7th November 1889, says: 'I am indebted to Mr. Gätke for the following information in connection with the occurrence of Loxia bifasciata (C. L. Brehm) in Heligoland, in the autumn of 1889: - "Common Crossbills in plenty, mixed, or rather followed, by the White-winged species (L. bifasciata). It has not been obtained here for a many years. I stuffed three old vermillion males, one yellow male, two old grey females with bright yellow rump, and an interesting young bird in the fist complete plumage - grey and black, striped on the rump, white, with black stripes.

The dates of their appearance are - August 14th, two, male and female, stuffed; a few more seen. September 1st, six; 15th, several seen, one caught; 16th, the same; 18th, three red, one grey, caught; 22nd, six, caught three - were altogether about fifteen, and greatly more than that number seen. Several were put in cages, and went to wreck and ruin, or were sold alive to the summer visitors.'

I have now before me a Lincolnshire example that was shot at South Cockerington, between Louth and the coast, in the autumn of this year, and taken in the flesh to Mr. Kew of the latter place, for preservation.

It is a remarkably fine adult male bird. Comparing it with a skin of L. leucoptera, kindly lent me by Mr. Gurney, the wings, tail, and scapulars are quite as black as in the American bird, the bright parts are inclined to vermilion, but in L. leucoptera they are distinctly rose-red, without any trace of that colour. In the western species also the beak is considerably weaker than in the European bird, and not so deep at the base.'

J. Cordeaux (1891) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XV. p. 363, adds: 'This is illustrated in Lord Lilford's Coloured Figures of the Birds of the British Islands, part xix.'

29). 1889 Norfolk/Suffolk Burgh Castle, Suffolk, male, shot, 1st September, now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1954Z1.1196).

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1890: 57; Southwell, 1890; Ticehurst, 1932; Allard, 1990; Watson, 2010).

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 57, says: 'On Sept. 1st a male Two-barred Crossbill was shot at Burgh, near Yarmouth. It is very brightly coloured, and with the lesser wing-coverts a deep plum-colour, the two alar bars well developed. From its stout bill and other marks it is evidently Loxia bifasciata.'

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 413) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix D' (species discarded from the Norfolk List), says: 'On the 1st September, 1889, an example of L. bifasciata, now in Mr. W. W. Spelman's collection, was killed at Burgh Castle, which is on the Suffolk shore of Breydon Water, and another was seen at the same time in company with it which was not procured.'

Ticehurst (1932: 84) says: 'This specimen passed from Mr. Spelman's collection to that of the Connop collection, now housed at the City of Birmingham Museum.'

Watson (2010) in detailing the W. R. Lysaght collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a specimen obtained at Burgh Castle, Breydon Broad, on 1st September 1889, from the collection of Mr. W. W. Spelman, Brundall, Norfolk.

30). 1889 Surrey Frith Hill, near Godalming, two: male and female, obtained, 28th November.

(H. Benson, Zoologist 1890: 17-18; H. H. Slater, Zoologist 1890: 105; Bucknill, 1900; Harting, 1901; Booth, 1901).

History H. Benson of Farncombe Rectory, Godalming (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. pp. 17-18, says: 'I am able to record the occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) in this neighbourhood. Two specimens, a male and female, were killed on Frith Hill, less than three quarters of a mile from the town of Godalming, on the north of it, at a distance of some 300 yards from each other, on November 28th. The former was shot by a gardener named Thomas Groundsell, the latter by James Chandler, he too a gardener; with the male was another bird (possible the female), which escaped; with the latter was a female Common Crossbill, which was also shot. The birds in both cases were feeding on the seeds of the larch, above 900 of which were taken from the crops of the three. They were by no means wild; indeed, the gun aimed at the two females missed fire three times, the birds scarcely changing their position before the fatal discharge was effected. The comparatively few instances in which this species has visited the British Isles will be accepted as my apology for these particulars. The skins of the birds are in my possession.'

H. H. Slater of Irchester Vicarage, Wellingborough (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 105, says: 'I recorded the occurrence of an immature example of this bird in the (Yorkshire) Naturalist, No. 171, October, 1889. This is the one referred to by Mr. Benson (p. 17) and by Lord Clifton in The Field for Dec. 7th,1889. As it seems to have been the first of the recent migration which have been ascertained to have been seen in England, the above reference may be useful.'

Bucknill (1900: 124) says: 'Two others were killed on Frith Hill, close to Charterhouse School, on the 28th of the same month [November, 1889]. One of these, a male, was in company with another bird (possibly a female), which escaped. The second, which was shot by another person about 300 yards away from the place where the first was killed, was a female. It was in company with a female L. curvirostra, which was also killed at the same time. All were feeding on the seeds of the larch. I had the pleasure of seeing these specimens shortly after they were shot, they having been acquired by the late Rev. H. Benson, the well-known rector and ornithologist, of Farncombe. The occurrence was eventually recorded in a lengthy note in the Zool., 1890, pp. 17 and 18.'

32). 1889 Greater London/Surrey Near Croydon, two: male and female, shot, late November.

(D. Brodie, Field 30th Nov., 1889: 777; Bucknill, 1900; Harting, 1901; Self, 2014).

History Douglas Brodie (1889) in The Field of 30th Nov., Vol. LXXIV. p. 777, says: 'Two White-winged Crossbills, one a male in red, one (probably) a female in green plumage have been shot out of a flock of at least eight in this district, and can be seen at Mr. Thorpe's, George Street, Croydon. I should be glad to hear if any of your correspondents have seen any in other parts of England this autumn.'

Bucknill (1900: 124) says: 'In the winter of 1889-90 several parties of these birds appeared in different parts of England. Two, a male in red and a female in green plumage, were shot out of a flock of at least eight, near Croydon, at the end of November, 1889, and were recorded in The Field, p. 775, November 30, 1889. - It is not at all certain that all the flock of eight crossbills at Croydon were L. bifasciata, but though this species seems to consort freely with the L. curvirostra, it seems quite possible that they were, as in the spring of 1890 others were shot in England, one so close to the borders of the county as Wellington, Berks, and also in Yorkshire.'

Comment I suspect that the male and female killed at Godalming is the same as those supposedly from Croydon, which were never given a locality; it is where they were sent to be stuffed. The two places are 40 km/25 miles apart. What are the chance of four individuals of this rare species occurring in that area. Neither record offers any duplications of names, omitting the ones that would tie it down. Only Bucknill records it as two records. Duplicate record.

34). 1889 Borders Staneshiel, Berwickshire, shot, 19th December.

(Anon., History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club 15: 214; G. Bolam, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1897: 86-87; W. Evans, British Birds 3: 306; Evans, 1911; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Murray, 1986).

History Anon. (1894-95) in the History of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club, Vol. XV. p. 214, says: 'Mr. Bolam mentioned that he had seen, in the house of Mr. Barrie, a White-winged Crossbill, which Mr. Barrie had shot on the Staneshiel. It was a very rare bird; but is already recorded by Mr. Barrie, jun., in the Club's Proceedings.'

G. Bolam (1897) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. VI. pp. 86-87, says: 'On the visit of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club to Bunkle [sic], on 5th June 1895, already alluded to in connection with the last species, I was agreeably surprised to find a specimen of this rare British bird, among the Common Crossbills, in the gamekeeper's cottage there. It had been shot, on 19th December 1889, in Staneshiel covert where it was found in company with some of the Common Crossbills (see Hist. Berw. Nat. Club, Vol. XII. p. 532). This is an important addition to the Birds of Berwickshire, as well as to the Eastern Borders.'

It may, therefore, be well to point out that Mr. George Bolam recorded in the Annals of Scottish Natural History for April, 1897, p. 86, that he had examined a specimen shot in Staneshiel covert, Bunkle [sic], Berwickshire, on December 19th, 1889. It was in the company of Common Crossbills, and was originally recorded as a male of the American White-winged Crossbill (J. Barrie, Proc. Berw. Nat. Club, XII. Pt. 3, 1890, p. 532).

It may, I think, be safely assumed that the "White-winged Crossbill" (male) shot near Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, in February, 1841, and recorded by Archibald Jerdon in the first volume of The Zoologist (p. 221), would also belong to the European form; and the same may be said of the two shot by Saxby in Unst on September 4th, 1859, and described in his Birds of Shetland, 1874, p. 115.'

Evans (1911: 92-93) says: 'A pardonable error was committed by Mr. J. Barrie, jnr., when he recorded a bird from Preston, on the Whitadder, as an American White-winged Crossbill; this was shot in company with another individual, said to be a Common Crossbill, in Staneshiel covert, on December 19th, 1889 (Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, Vol. XII. p. 532). The specimen, however, being exhibited at a meeting of the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club on June 5th 1895, Mr. G. Bolam was able to correct the mistake, and refer the bird to Loxia bifasciata, as he tells us in a subsequent paper (Annals Scot. Nat. Hist., 1897, p. 86).'

Bolam (1912: 167) says: 'Shot by Mr. J. Barrie, gamekeeper at Buncle, Berwickshire, from a party of Common Crossbills. It was examined by George Bolam in 1895 whilst still in the original owner's possession.'

35). 1890 Bedfordshire Ampthill, c. 20, seen, four, obtained, 3rd January.

(H. H. Slater, Zoologist 1890: 105; Steele-Elliott, 1901; Trodd & Kramer, 1991).

History H. H. Slater of Irchester Vicarage, Wellingborough (1890) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIV. p. 105, says: '...I have recently heard of five more in Bedfordshire; four of these were shot by a schoolboy with a catapult; two of them (an adult male and female) I have seen in the Modern School Museum in Bedford.'

Steele-Elliott (1901: 96-97) says: 'Through the kindness of Mr. H. W. Finlinson I am enabled to give the following particulars of the birds observed by him.

He writes: - "We found these Crossbills in the fir plantation along the roadside of Ampthill between the railway station and the village. They were haunting a quantity of young larch trees forming part of the above wood. The first one was secured by one of my friends, who had mistaken it for a hen Chaffinch, and, as it happened, he had shot away the lower mandible, and, probably on this account, we did not identify it, but remarked as to its unusual size. This was the bird that eventually got on the wing again and was lost. I was the next to come upon a party of about six in a larch tree not more than twelve feet high, and they allowed me to stand close underneath them. To my astonishment, I saw them climbing about like Parrots, and, being excited, I missed them a score or more times without alarming them to any extent. In the meantime the other two fellows had found another company of the birds. Eventually, I managed to hit a fine red bird which, however, clung to the branches, as did the previous one mentioned, and required shaking down. The others then flew a short distance away, but were by no means scared, and we followed them for some considerable time. Sometimes they took to the other kinds of firs as well as the very tall Scotch firs. I eventually secured another one in the green plumage, and my other friend, Mr. Arthur Crossman (brother to Mr. A. F. Crossman) also obtained a pair. As far as I am able to judge there were perhaps twenty observed in all. In flight their wings seemed to "whirr" a good deal, and they emitted a series of short sounds like a "cluck" at each motion of the wings".

I have had the pleasure of examining those in Mr. Crossman's possession, the other male is still retained by Mr. Finlinson, and the female has passed into the collection of Mr. J. Smith, of Bedford.'

Trodd & Kramer (1991) say: 'A flock was found in one of the fir plantations at Ampthill on 3rd January 1890 by three Bedford schoolboys. Five were secured by the use of catapults but one of these escaped. H. W. Finlinson considered that there were perhaps 20 of them.'

Comment I believe it prudent to only count the four that were obtained, some of which were examined by Steele-Elliott; those seen were by schoolboys and although they may be correct there are no identification details.

39). 1890 Hertfordshire Tharbies, near Sawbridgeworth, shot, 11th January.

(H. S. Rivers, Zoologist 1893: 27; A. F. Crossman, Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club 9: 74-75; Sage, 1959; Gladwin & Sage, 1986).

History H. Somers Rivers of Sawbridgeworth (1893) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XVII. p. 27, under 'Supposed occurrence of Loxia leucoptera in Herts.', says: 'When out shooting with a friend on Jan. 11th, 1890, we got a bird which answers to Montagu's American White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera).

After lunch we went into a little larch wood at the back of the keeper's cottage, when we saw the crossbill swinging underneath a branch near the top of one of the trees, and shot it, and did not notice any others. The stuffed bird is now in my possession.'

A. F. Crossman (1898) in the Transactions of the Hertfordshire Natural History Society and Field Club, Vol. IX. pp. 74-75, says: 'In The Zoologist for 1893, there is a note from Mr. H. Somers Rivers of the supposed occurrence of the American white - winged crossbill (Z. leucoptera) in Hertfordshire.

I wrote to Mr. Rivers for particulars, which he gave me, and he also most kindly lent me the bird for inspection. I showed it to Mr. Hartert, Curator of the Tring Museum, and he, after referring to the late Mr. Seebohm's book on British Birds, decided that it must be L. bifasciata, that is the Two-barred Crossbill, and not the American species.

This bird was shot by Mr. Rivers on January 11th, 1890, in a larch wood at Tharbies, near Sawbridgeworth. It was swinging underneath a branch at the top of a tree, and was alone at the time. From its general plumage, which was a dull green, it appears to be a female, but unfortunately the sex was not ascertained by dissection. According to Saunders' Manual of British Birds, "this bird inhabits the coniferous forests of Northern Russia and Siberia, as far as the Pacific; wandering in autumn and winter to South Sweden, Denmark, Heligoland, North Germany, Holland, Belgium, the North of France, North Italy, Austria, and Poland".

In the British Isles the first recorded specimen was obtained near Belfast in Ireland, in 1802, since which time several specimens have been obtained in the United Kingdom. The American form is considered by many authorities to be only entitled to subspecific distinction.'

Comment With Hartert examining it and the fact it was in a larch wood the record is considered acceptable as opposed to "supposed".

40). 1890 Berkshire Near Wellington College, four, one killed, 27th February.

(Wellington College Natural Science Report 1890: 71; J. Ward, Field 8th Mar., 1890: 360; Radford, 1966; Fraser & Youngman, 1976).

History Josh. Ward of Blacklands, Calne (1890) in The Field of 8th Mar., Vol. LXXV. p. 360, under 'Two-barred Crossbill in Wilts.', says: 'A Two-barred or White-winged Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) was killed by a friend of mine at Wellington, Berkshire, a few days ago, and is now in my possession. Is this considered a rare English bird?"

[Yes; but several have been procured during the past autumn and winter in different parts of the country, and have been reported in these columns. - Ed.]

Radford (1966) states that four were seen and one shot.

Comment Again, only the obtained specimen to count.

41). 1890 Dumfries & Galloway Dardarroch Woods, Dumfriesshire, pair, shot, 1st March, photo.

(H. McKay, Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society 1893: 138; H. S. Gladstone, British Birds 3: 375; Gladstone, 1910, photo; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

History Hugh McKay of Dumfries (1893) in the Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society, 2nd series, Vol. IX. p. 138, says: 'I am indebted to Mr. Henry Martin, of Dardarroch, for the following note, and although it is three years since the specimens were obtained, they were not recorded, and are therefore worthy of mention here.

He informed me that on the 1st March, 1890, three specimens of the American White-winged Crossbill were observed in Dardarroch Woods, a male and female of which he shot, and are now in his collection. I doubted his statement at first, and remarked that it might be the Two-barred Crossbill, which in appearance is much similar to the American species, but he assured me that they were undoubtedly the American species, and could be seen at any time. He also informed me that the Common Crossbill was seen throughout the whole of the year.'

S. Gladstone (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 375, says: 'In view of Mr. William Evans' notes on this species on p. 306 (supra), I write to inform you that a pair of L. bifasciata were shot at Dardarroch, Dunscore, Dumfriesshire, on March 1st, 1890. Full details, with plate, will appear shortly in my Birds of Dumfriesshire.

A record of "a large flock" of L. leucoptera near Banff, about 1809 (Zool., 1859, p. 6631), is not mentioned by Mr. Evans, although referred to by Saxby (Birds of Shetland, 1874, p. 115).'

Gladstone (1910: 98-99) says: 'Mr. Hugh Mackay in 1893 drew attention to a pair of Two-barred Crossbills thus: I am indebted to Mr. Henry Martin, of Dardarroch, for the following note, and although it is three years since the specimens were obtained, they were not recorded, and are therefore worthy of mention here. He informed me that on the 1st of March, 1890, three specimens of the American White-winged Crossbill were observed in Dardarroch Woods, a male and female of which he shot, and are now in his collection.

I doubted his statement at first, and remarked that it might be the Two-barred Crossbill, which in appearance is much similar to the American species, but he assured me that they were undoubtedly the American species, and could be seen at any time (Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc., May 12th, 1893).'

Mr. R. Martin in answer to my request sent me these birds, which were labelled: "American White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), male and female, shot, Dardarroch, March 1st, 1890". I identified them as an immature male and mature female of the Two-barred Crossbill; but to make assurance doubly sure, I sent them to the authorities at the Natural History Museum, South Kensington, who concurred in my identification.

In correspondence, Mr. Henry Martin informed me that he had shot the birds himself in the spring of 1890, and added that there were "three White-winged Crossbills together when I shot the two, the other being a female; and as I had obtained a male and female did not wish to kill the other in case there might be more. At that time there were a great many common Crossbills in the woods of Dardarroch....I may remark that the White-winged Crossbills when I saw them were engaged feeding on the cones of the larch trees, and twittering as if quite at home; and as I believed they were different from the common variety, I could not resist securing the two specimens".

The above would appear to be the second authenticated record of the occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill in Scotland. The first, a male, was shot on December 19th, 1889, in Berwickshire (ASNH 1897: 86). Birds obtained previous to this date and recorded as examples of Loxia leucoptera may, however, have really belonged to the present species.'

43). 1894 Orkney North Ronaldsay, adult male, shot, 13th June, now at North Ronaldsay Bird Observatory.

(A. Briggs, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1895: 54; Saunders, 1899; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Balfour, 1971; Booth, Cuthbert & Reynolds, 1984).

History Allan Briggs of St Andrews (1895) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. IV. p. 54, says: 'On the 18th of June last, I received from North Ronaldshay, Orkney, a specimen of Loxia bifasciata in the flesh. It was a male in finest breeding dress, and was secured by the gardener at Holland House on the 13th of June, while sitting on one of the gravel walks. He had seen the bird the previous evening when it was unattended by any of its own or other species. Mr. Eagle Clarke kindly identified it for me as belonging to the European race.'

Admitted nationally (Saunders 1899: 203, 2nd ed.).

44). 1895 Avon Near Keynsham, Somerset, shot, late February.

(J. E. Harting, Zoologist 1895: 110; Palmer & Ballance, 1968).

History J. E. Harting, Editor (1895) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XIX. p. 110, says: 'A letter from Mr. Maxwell, of Keynsham, Somerset, announces the fact of his having shot a red Crossbill with two white bars across the wing, one of a little flock that visited a wood in his neighbourhood during the last week of February....We have no reason to doubt the correctness of identification, and those of our correspondents who are being visited by Crossbills this winter would do well to keep a look-out for the rarer Two-barred species that may be in their company.'

45). c. 1898 Yorkshire Flamborough, male, obtained, undated.

(Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986).

History Nelson (1907 (1): 201) says: 'At Flamborough, a male, which I have seen in the collection of Mr. Forster of Bridlington, was obtained about 1898.'

Accepted locally (Mather 1986).

46). 1908 Fair Isle No locality, adult male, seen, 16th June.

(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 71; Clarke, 1912; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).

History Wm. Eagle Clarke (1909) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVIII. p. 71, says: 'This is another spring visitor which found itself quite out of its natural surroundings and away from its ordinary food-supplies when at Fair Isle. It, too, was observed on the ground feeding on pony's dung. This Crossbill has only once previously been recorded for Scotland, namely, from the Orkney island of North Ronaldsay.'

Clarke (1912 (2): 75) under 'A Year at Fair Isle' in George Stout's diary of 1908, says: '16th June - Southerly strong breeze; clear. A Two-barred Crossbill, an adult male was observed. It had to resort to seeking food among the dung of the ponies.' However, p. 113, under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', he adds: '...an adult male on 13th June 1908.'

47). 1908 Cumbria Maryport, male, 28th September.

(E. Blezard, Transactions of the Carlisle Natural History Society 6: 30).

History Ernest Blezard (1943) in the Transactions of the Carlisle Natural History Society, Vol. VI. p. 30, says: 'A male Two-barred Crossbill which had been consorting with Bramblings, was taken by R. Lewis, at Maryport, Cumberland, on 28th September, 1908. Brought to notice by J. Wilson, it is the only known occurrence of this rare wanderer since the winter of 1845-46 when, as Macpherson records, there was a flock in North Cumberland.'

48). 1909 Fair Isle No locality, adult male, obtained, 10th July.

(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 217; Eds., British Birds 3: 195; E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1910: 135; Clarke, 1912; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).

History W. E. Clarke (1909) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XVIII. p. 217, says: 'If further evidence were necessary to prove the origin of the visitors, it is afforded by the fact that among the flocks at Fair Isle and the Flannans, adult males of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) were detected and obtained. This rare visitor to our islands is a native of Northern Prussia and Siberia, and it is highly probable that it was present among the parties of the common species in fair numbers.'

In an Editorial (1909) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 195, he says: 'Among the flocks of Common Crossbills at Fair Isle and also at the Flannan Islands "adult males of the Two-barred Crossbill ( Loxia bifasciata) were detected and obtained" (W. E. Clarke, Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1909, p. 217).'

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1910) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIX. p. 135, under 'Report on Scottish Ornithology, 1909'.

Clarke (1912 (2): 113) under 'The Birds of Fair Isle', says: 'Two-barred Crossbill - One on 10th July 1909. It was seen feeding on the ground amid a number of examples of the common species, then so abundant. It is more than probable that there were other examples of this species on the island at the time, which escaped notice, females and young birds being particularly liable to be overlooked among the throng of the commoner bird.'

49). 1909 At sea Sea area Cromarty/Forties, caught on board steamer Goldseeker, 12th July.

(W. E. Clarke, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1909: 217).

One came on board the fishery steamer Goldseeker, in a dead tired state, 95 miles E. by S.¾S. of Auskerry Light, Orkney, on July 12th, and allowed itself to be captured (Mr. John McKenzie in litt.).'

50). 1909 Outer Hebrides Eilean Mor, Flannan Isles, adult male, obtained, 21st July.

Admitted by E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1910) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XIX. p. 135, under 'Report on Scottish Ornithology, 1909'.

Clarke (1912 (2): 265-266) under 'The Flannan Isles' says: 'The following migratory birds appeared at Eilean Mor during 1901-1911.' Further, p. 268, Clarke adds: 'Two-barred Crossbill - An adult male was shot on 21st July from among the common Crossbills which frequented the island during summer of 1909.'

51). 1910 Outer Hebrides Eilean Mor, Flannan Isles, male, caught, 14th August.

(L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter, Annals of Scottish Natural History 1911: 139; Clarke, 1912; Eds., British Birds 5: 201; W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 30: 268; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Cunningham, 1983).

History Admitted by L. J. Rintoul & E. V. Baxter (1911) in the Annals of Scottish Natural History, Vol. XX. p. 139, under 'Report on Scottish Ornithology in 1910', who say: 'The second record of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera bifasciata) for the Outer Hebrides comes from the Flannans, one having been procured there on the 14th of August.'

In an Editorial (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. p. 201, they say: 'One Flannans (O. Hebrides), August 14th (p. 139). Only once before obtained in the Outer Hebrides, viz., in June, 1909, at the same place.'

W. R. Ogilvie-Grant, Editor (1912) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XXX. p. 268, on the unexpected occurrences for 1910, says: 'One taken, Flannan Islands Lt. (Outer Hebrides), August 14th.'

52). 1912 Radnorshire Near Llandrindod Wells, male, picked up dead, November.

(Ingram & Morrey Salmon, 1955; Lovegrove, Williams & Williams, 1994).

History Ingram & Morrey Salmon (1955: 33) say: 'This male was picked up dead in a pine-wood near Llandrindod Wells in November, 1912 (R. P. Bufton).'

Admitted nationally for Wales (Lovegrove, Williams & Williams 1994).

53). 1927 Fair Isle No locality, seen, 2nd and 5th September.

(E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul, Scottish Naturalist 48: 107; Eds., British Birds 23: 103; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).

History E. V. Baxter & L. J. Rintoul (1928) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. XLVIII. p. 107, in the annual report for 1927, say: 'A Two-barred Crossbill on 2nd and 5th September.'

In an Editorial (1929) in British Birds, Vol. XXIII. p. 103, they say: 'One at Fair Isle on September 2nd and 5th.'

54). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, three, 12th September.

(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 51: 45-46; Eds., British Birds 25: 25; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).

History J. H. Stenhouse (1931) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. LI. pp. 45-46, says: 'At Fair Isle notes were taken during the period by Mr. George Stout, and it is from his diary, which has been forwarded to me, that the following details have been extracted....Three Two-barred Crossbills were seen on 12th September, and one on 18th September.'

In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 25, they say: 'Three at Fair Isle on September 12th, 1930, and one on the 18th.'

57). 1930 Fair Isle No locality, another, 18th September.

(J. H. Stenhouse, Scottish Naturalist 51: 45-46; Eds., British Birds 25: 25; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991; Pennington et al., 2004).

In an Editorial (1931) in British Birds, Vol. XXV. p. 25, they say: 'Three at Fair Isle on September 12th, 1930, and one on the 18th.'

58). 1931 Yorkshire Near Goathland, female, seen, 3rd May.

(W. S. Medlicott, British Birds 26: 197-198; M. J. Rogers and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 94: 498; Chislett, 1952; Mather, 1986).

History W. S. Medlicott (1932) in British Birds, Vol. XXVI. pp. 197-198, says: 'During the spring of 1931 I had been visiting all the likely places for Crossbills in the neighbourhood of Goathland. On May 3rd, 1931, I went to a very likely looking wood with some fine old Scots pines dotted about in clumps.

As I entered, a single bird, about 50 yards away, flew up (I think off the ground) into a pine. I was looking out for Crossbills, but, even so, took this to be a hen Chaffinch on first sight owing to its white markings. The bird pitched on an outstretching branch about 30 feet up. When I got a good view with glasses it was hanging back downmost, and was at work on a pine cone. I watched it for about a minute and got a very good view at 25 yards or less. The two white wing-bars were quite conspicuous, and it was an undoubted Crossbill with the usual "parrot" movements.

Its size appeared to be that of a small Common Crossbill. The general colouring of the upper parts was a dirty greyish yellow, rather dark, with streaks; rump lighter and conspicuous in flight; underparts lighter. I saw nothing red. I have no doubt that this bird was a Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera bifasciata).

It suddenly flew off and I never saw it again, though I searched hard that day and three or four days subsequently. It did not join other Common Crossbills which were within 100 yards or I should certainly have seen it again, as I watched these (a pair) all day, and on several other days later, when they were with about twenty more.'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952; Mather 1986).

59). 1939 Fair Isle No locality, three, one obtained, 29th September.

(G. Waterston, British Birds 38: 228; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953; Dymond, 1991).

History G. Waterston (1945) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVIII. p. 228, under 'Notes from Fair Isle, 1939-45, says: 'Two-barred Crossbill - Has not been seen for a number of years. Three were seen (one obtained) by G.S. on 29th September 1939.'

Comment G.S. = George Stout, an islander.

62). 1943 Co. Durham Wolsingham, five, seen, 10th to 28th January.

(G. W. Temperley, British Birds 36: 225; G. W. Temperley, Naturalist 69: 113; Temperley, 1951; Bowey & Newsome, 2012).

History G. W. Temperley (1943) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVI. p. 225, and (1944) in the new series of The Naturalist, Vol. LXIX. p. 113, says: 'Mr. R. Martinson of Foresters Lodge, Wolsingham, in the Wear Valley, reports that from 10th to 28th January 1943, he had under observation five Two-barred Crossbills.

Flocks of the Common Crossbill Loxia recurvirostra, have been present all through the winter in the coniferous woodlands on the Foresters Lodge estate; but it was not until January 10th that Mr. Martinson noticed the Two-barred species. Two of them were in one flock of the Common species and three were in another, always mingled in flocks of more than fifty of the Common species.

As the birds showed no shyness he was able to observe them at close quarters with filed glasses and had therefore no difficulty in identifying them with certainty. He writes: "Two of the birds were adult males and showed a lot of crimson; this crimson in a good light appeared to be more of a pink colour and was much lighter than the crimson on the Common species. The other three showed no crimson at all and were a darkish green colour, the breast feathers being a little lighter, and showed pale yellow on their rumps. I did not notice any of the birds being streaked. The birds appeared to be of the same size as the Common species; the only difference I noticed, as far as size goes, being the bill, which did not appear to be so strong".

He saw them many times from January 10th to 28th, but not later, and since that date, flocks of the Common species have dwindled in size though there are still a few left....This is the first recorded occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill in County Durham.'

Accepted locally (Temperley 1951; Bowey & Newsome 2012).

67). 1948 Surrey Locality withheld, four: two males and two females, 11th to 12th March.

(J. O. Owens, British Birds 42: 119-120; Parr, 1972; Wheatley, 2007).

History J. O. Owens (1949) in British Birds, Vol. XLII. pp. 119-120, says: 'During the morning of March 11th, 1948,1 was watching a number of birds feeding in a row of mixed Austrian and Scots Pines. There were about 70 Chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs), several Greenfinches (Chloris chloris), three Hawfinches (Coccothraustes coccothraustes) and four birds which I did not recognize.

Two of them were of a brick-red colour with brownish wings and tail; the others were of a greenish-yellow, striated with brown. The wings and tail were brownish. All four of the birds had two very distinct white wing-bars. The tails were short and forked. The size was similar to a Bullfinch, They were feeding on cones - generally holding them on the branch, though once or twice they hung on in a very tit-like fashion. After a long period of watching I saw that the mandibles of the bills were definitely crossed. The legs were yellowish-green.

On the following morning I returned to the spot and again watched the birds for some time, confirming all the above points but noting nothing fresh. During the afternoon I again watched them and heard one of the birds sing. I should describe the song as a fairly long trill followed by several rather harsh Chaffinch-like "twinks".

During these observations I saw several flights which were undulating. I have no doubt that the birds were Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia leucoptera bifasciata). All the observations were made through x8 glasses at distances varying from 10 yards to 30 yards.'

Accepted locally (Parr 1972) and (Wheatley 2007).

1950-57 RECORD

71). 1953 Fair Isle Burrashield, adult female, 4th July.

(K. Williamson, Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin 1 (11): 5; Dymond, 1991).

History K. Williamson (1953) in the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Bulletin, Vol. I (XI). p. 5, says: 'On 2nd [July] the flocks counted at various points totalled about 140 birds, and there was certainly 150 plus on 4th, so it is unlikely that any marked change had occurred.

In one flock of 50 birds that day, feeding on the southern slope of Burrashield, our one and only Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera to date was recognised. It was an adult female and the white bars on median and greater coverts were strikingly noticeable in contrast with the plain wings of the "commoners" surrounding it: there was no white on the tips of the tertials, but these, presumably, would have been lost by abrasion at this season.'

Comment Has a wing-barred Common Crossbill been ruled out because of missing white tertial tips?

NOT PROVEN

0). c. 1809 North-east Scotland Near Banff, large flock, undated.

(Pennant, 1812; T. Edward, Zoologist 1859: 6631; Saxby, 1874; H. S. Gladstone, British Birds 3: 375).

[Harvie-Brown, 1895; H. S. Gladstone, British Birds 3: 411-412; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Thomas Edward of Banff (1859) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. XVII. p. 6631, says: 'One very stormy winter, about fifty years ago, the good lieges of our quiet little borough were rather astonished by the presence of a large flock of these birds. Having alighted on what are termed the "Castle trees", their strange appearance and gaudy plumage soon attracted notice, nearly the whole town flocking to the spot to see the "foreigners". They appeared quite exhausted, many of them dropping from the trees.'

Gray (1871: 156) says: 'Mr. Thomas Edward of Banff has recorded that a large flock appeared near that town in 1859. The birds in this case seemed to be in a state of great exhaustion, many of them being even unable to cling to the trees on which they perched.'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 361, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union, admits this record.

H. S. Gladstone (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 375, says: 'In view of Mr. William Evans' notes on this species on p. 306 (supra), I write to inform you - A record of "a large flock" of L. leucoptera near Banff, about 1809 (Zool., 1859, p. 6631), is not mentioned by Mr. Evans, although referred to by Saxby (Birds of Shetland, 1874, p. 115).'

H. S. Gladstone (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. pp. 411-412, says: 'As regards my note on p. 375 (supra), drawing attention to a record of "a large flock of L. leucoptera near Banff about 1809", I am informed by Mr. J. A. Harvie-Brown that after full consideration and investigation he considered this record as imperfect, and as such placed it in square brackets in his Vertebrate Fauna of the Moray Basin (1895, Vol. I. p. 300).'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. pp. 654-655, say: 'Pennant (1812) said that this record came through an unreliable source.'

Comment It will be seen how dates can change by authors not recording the correct detail. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable. The Vertebrate Fauna was with T. E. Buckley and published in 1896.

0). 1826 Yorkshire Plompton, near Knaresborough, shot, undated.

(Nelson, 1907; Mather, 1986; Palmer, 2000).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 29, 2nd ed.) says: 'It occurred in considerable numbers in Silesia and Thuringia in the autumn of 1826.'

Nelson (1907 (1): 196) says: 'The first being from the neighbourhood of Knaresborough, where one was shot at Plompton in 1826. This specimen was formerly in the collection of the late J. C. Garth of Knaresborough, and at the dispersal of his effects in December 1904, it was purchased by Riley Fortune of Harrogate.'

Accepted locally (Chislett 1952; Mather 1986).

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, rejected this record because of no published description or precise collection data published in any contemporary sources, nor could the specimen be traced.

0). c. 1838 Isle of Wight No locality, two, undated.

(C. A. Bury, Zoologist 1844: 643; Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. Hadfield, Zoologist 1879: 182-183; Harting, 1901; Kelsall & Munn, 1905).

[Cohen & Taverner, 1972; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History C. A. Bury (1844) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. II. p. 643, says: 'Mr. Butler informed me that about six years ago he obtained a pair of birds, which he supposed to be only the Common Crossbill in one of its many states of plumage; but the conspicuous white bars across the wings, described by Mr. Butler, seem to decide that they belong to the rarer species.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): 30, 2nd ed.) says: 'The Rev. C. A. Bury has mentioned on the authority of Mr. Butler, that a pair of these birds had been taken in the Isle of Wight.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "Bury in 1844 said (Zool, p. 643) he had been told of a pair of Crossbills with white bars on their wings having been obtained about six years before in the Isle of Wight".'

Henry Hadfield (1879) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. III. pp. 182-183, says: 'In the January number of The Zoologist (p. 32), the Editor quotes Mr. A. G. More's statement in Venables' Guide to the Isle of Wight, to show that the...White-winged Crossbill is included [in the list of birds], though only "supposed to have occurred once".'

Kelsall & Munn (1905: 71) say: 'Two birds were procured in the Isle of Wight about 1838, by Mr. Butler, of Yarmouth, "which he supposed to be only the Common Crossbill in one of its many states of plumage; but the conspicuous white bars across the wings, described by Mr. Butler, seem to decide that they belong to the rarer species".'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, rejected this record through inadequate documentation.

Comment Lacks adequate details. Not seen by a competent ornithologist. Not acceptable.

0). 1838 Worcestershire Near Worcester, female, obtained, undated.

(Yarrell, 1845; Salvin, 1882; BOU, 1883; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 13; Harthan, 1946; Harrison et al., 1982).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 29, 2nd ed.) says: 'H. E. Strickland, Esq., of Cracombe House, Evesham, in a letter with which he has favoured me, mentions that he possesses a specimen of the White-winged Crossbill, killed near Worcester in 1836.'

Salvin (1882: 203) says: '(a) f [female] Worcestershire (T. Robinson) 1838. A North American species. There seems to be no doubt that (a) was killed in England.'

Saunders (1899, 2nd ed.) says: 'A hen, ascribed to the American form, in the Strickland Collection at Cambridge, was killed near Worcester in 1838.'

Admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds stating the year as 1838 (BOU 1883).

W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 13, list this under American White-winged Crossbill and state the year as 1838.

Harrison et al. (1982: 429-430) say: 'Newton examined this specimen and found it to relate to the American race L. l. leucoptera. As the Handbook does not admit this race it is doubtfully a wild bird.'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, say: 'In Salvin (1882) Strickland acquired this female from the dealer T. Robinson, said to have been obtained in Worcestershire in 1836; but Harting gave the year as 1838. The specimen is in the Strickland collection (No. 992a) at the Zoological Museum, Cambridge, and is of the American form, but without precise details of where it was obtained it is deemed unacceptable.'

Comment Discrepancy over the year of occurrence. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1839 Suffolk Near Ipswich, five/six, one shot, undated.

(Yarrell, 1845; Yarrell, 1871-85; Ticehurst, 1932; Piotrowski, 2003).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 29-30, 2nd ed.) says: 'Mr. Hoy informed me that some years ago Mr. Seaman, of Ipswich, who is well acquainted with birds, being out with his gun, looking for specimens, saw five or six small birds on a tree, which from their peculiar manners attracted his attention; he fired and killed one which proved to be a White-winged Crossbill, but the more fortunate survivors did not allow him an opportunity of repeating the experiment.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palaearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "Hoy informed the Author [Yarrell] that, some time prior to 1839, Mr. Seaman of Ipswich had shot one apparently near that town".'

Ticehurst (1932: 84) says: 'Some time prior to 1839, a flock of five or six, which one must suppose belonged to this form, were seen near Ipswich, and one was shot by Seaman.' It was still acceptable to Suffolk (Piotrowski 2003).

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, reject this record on the basis of inadequate documentation.

Comment The ornithological competence of the person who examined it is not known, but presumably Hoy knew Mr. Seaman. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1840 Cornwall Lariggan Valley, Penzance, killed, undated.

(E. H. Rodd, Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall 1840: 75; E. H. Rodd, Zoologist 1843: 142; Harting, 1880; Penhallurick, 1978).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History E. H. Rodd (1840) in the Journal of the Royal Institution of Cornwall, p. 75, had the following read on 6th November 1840, and also reprinted in The Zoologist (1843) 1st series, Vol. I. p. 142, where he says: 'The next rare bird which has come under my notice, and of which a correct figure is given in the second volume of Yarrell's British Birds, is the White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera).

This bird was killed a few years since at Lariggan, near this place [Penzance], and was preserved in a very mutilated state as a supposed Chaffinch. The two white bars in the wing no doubt caused the mistake, and it was by mere accident that I detected the specimen just in time to prevent its falling to pieces, through the united agencies of moths and mildew.

This species is not, I observe, included by Selby as a British bird; and, according to Yarrell, not more than four authenticated instances of its capture in England are recorded.'

Harting, Editor (1880: 59-60) in Rodd's Birds of Cornwall, says: 'Under the name "White-winged Crossbill", I recorded many years ago (Zoologist 1843: 142) the occurrence in Cornwall, at Lariggan, of Loxia bifasciata.

A single specimen only was obtained, and having been preserved is still in my collection. A figure of it is given in Blight's Week at the Land's End (p. 28), but is so indistinctly drawn as to render it difficult to determine from the engraving whether the bird is intended for the Palearctic Loxia bifasciata, or the Nearctic Loxia leucoptera, both of which species have occurred at rare intervals in various parts of the British Islands.

The more constant differences between the two forms will be found summed up in Professor Newton's edition of Yarrell's British Birds, Vol. II. p. 217.'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, rejected this record because the exact year it was obtained was unknown and the race was indeterminable. Not acceptable.

0). 1841 Borders Bonjedward, Roxburghshire, shot, February.

(A. Jerdon, Zoologist 1843: 221-222; A. Jerdon, Zoologist 1850: 2878; E. H. Rodd, Transactions of the Penzance Natural History Society 1850: 412; Gray, 1871; Yarrell, 1871-85; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 8: 361; W. Evans, British Birds 3: 306; Evans, 1911; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 13; Baxter & Rintoul, 1953).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Archibald Jerdon (1843) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. I. pp. 221-222, says: 'A White-winged Crossbill was shot in this neighbourhood in the month of February, 1841. I had an opportunity of examining the bird, which had been sent to a gunsmith in Jedburgh to be stuffed, and it appeared to me to be a full grown female, but of this I cannot be certain. Small flocks of the Common Crossbill visit us to feed on the seeds of Larch. They are generally seen in spring.'

A. Jerdon (1850) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. VIII. p. 2878, says: 'The White-winged Crossbill is very rare. I have only known one instance of its occurrence within the last ten or twelve years.'

Gray (1871: 155-156) says: 'In February, 1841, a specimen of the straggling visitant [American White-winged Crossbill] to Britain was shot near Jedburgh, and came under the notice of Mr. Jerdon, whose name appears in connection with the 1845 European White-winged Crossbill in Roxburghshire.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "the late Archibald Jerdon, as accurate an observer as his more distinguished brother, stated (Zool., p. 221) that he examined one, apparently a hen, shot in February, 1841, near Bonjedward in Roxburghshire".'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1885-86) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. VIII. p. 361, in the Report of the East of Scotland Union, admits this as the only record for this area.

William Evans (1910) in British Birds, Vol. III. p. 306, says: 'The fact that Saunders in the second edition of his Manual (Pt. 6, April, 1898) makes definite mention of only one occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) in Scotland, namely, an adult male shot on North Ronaldshay, in the Orkneys, on June 18th, 1894, has led to the supposition that up to that time there was no other authentic record from north of the Border (see British Birds, Vol. II. p. 423)....It may, I think, be safely assumed that the "White-winged Crossbill" (male) shot near Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, in February, 1841, and recorded by Archibald Jerdon in the first volume of The Zoologist (p. 221), would also belong to the European form.'

Evans (1911: 92-93) says: 'Mr. J. E. Harting, in his Handbook of British Birds, cites Gray's Birds of the West of Scotland (p. 155) for the occurrence of an example of the American Loxia leucoptera in Roxburghshire, but he does not mention that Gray also gives an instance of the European form having been shot in the same county. It seems certain, as Mr. Harting no doubt was aware, that these two records, though Gray dates them differently, refer to the same individual, which was shot in February 1841, near Bonjedward, in Roxburghshire, and examined by the accurate naturalist, Archibald Jerdon, who considered it to be a female (Zoologist, Vol. I. p. 221). Here the identification must remain doubtful.'

Bolam (1912: 168) says: 'It has, moreover been suspected that the two records may refer to the same specimen.'

W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 13, list this under American White-winged Crossbill.

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, state that this was a muddled and duplicated record, and reject it through inadequate documentation.

Comment Bolam was referring to this record and the 1845 record, also from Roxburghshire, which is a duplicate for this record. The sex is uncertain from the above articles. Not acceptable.

0). 1845 Borders No locality, Roxburghshire, killed, March.

(Yarrell, 1845; E. H. Rodd, Transactions of the Penzance Natural History Society 1850: 412; Gray, 1871).

[A. Jerdon, Zoologist 1850: 2878].

History Yarrell (1845 (2): 30, 2nd ed.) says: 'One example is mentioned by Mr. Jerdon, as having been taken in Roxburghshire in the month of March of the present year.'

E. H. Rodd (1850) in the Transactions of the Penzance Natural History Society, dated May 1850, p. 412, says: 'Recent examples, - Scotland, 1841.'

Yarrell (1856: 19, 2nd supp.) says: 'One example of the European White-winged Crossbill is mentioned by Mr. Jerdon as having been taken in Roxburghshire in the month of March, 1845.'

Gray (1871: 155) says: 'Only Scottish example of the European White-winged Crossbill is the one mentioned by Mr. Yarrell as having been killed in Roxburghshire by Mr. Jerdon in March, 1845.'

Bolam (1912: 168) says: 'It has, moreover been suspected that the two records may refer to the same specimen.'

Comment Bolam was referring to this record and the 1841 record, also from Roxburghshire. Rodd in listing seven specimens only listed one for Scotland. It is, as has been suspected, a duplicate record. Not acceptable.

0). 1845 West Midlands Near Birmingham, Warwickshire, caught alive, March.

(Yarrell, 1871-85).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194]

History Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "In March 1845, Mr. J. Cooper had one alive which was caught near Birmingham, as Strickland informed the Author" [Yarrell].'

Harrison et al. (1982) make no mention of this record.

Comment There was a J. Cooper, taxidermist of Preston, who also received this species from Cumbria in 1845; possibly one and the same Mr. Cooper. Strickland lived at Evesham, Worcestershire.

First record is 1st November 1845 in Cumbria (BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194).

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. pp. 654-656, make no mention of this record. Lacks adequate details. Not acceptable.

0). 1845 Devon Exmouth, adult male, picked up dead on the shore, 17th September.

(E. B. Fitton, Zoologist 1845: 1190; W. Yarrell, Proceedings of the Zoological Society 1845: 91; Yarrell, 1845, 1856; Newman, 1866; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4695; BOU, 1883; D'Urban & Mathew, 1892; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 13; Moore, 1969).

[BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 194; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History E. B. Fitton (1845) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. III. p. 1190, dated 20th September, 1845, says: 'As I was walking along the coast at Exmouth, on the afternoon of the 17th instant, during a strong wind from the south-west, which had continued for several days, I picked up a dead bird, which had apparently just been washed ashore. It was covered with sand and dirt, but after washing out the salt water, and cleaning it, it proved to be but little injured. On my arrival in town, I took it to Mr. Yarrell, and found that it was a White-winged Crossbill. It is a male bird, and has not completed its autumnal moult. The plumage agrees with that of the male in his second plumage (Yarrell, Brit. Birds, II. 43), but has a few of the greenish yellow feathers of the younger bird mixed with the crimson on the back.'

W. Yarrell (1845) in the Proceedings of the Zoological Society, pt. xiii, p. 91, read 23rd September 1845, says: 'Edward Fitton, Esq., exhibited to the Meeting a fine male specimen of the White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera), in red plumage, which he had picked up dead upon the shore at Exmouth on the 17th instant. It appeared to have been injured on the back of the head, and to have crept into a crevice of one of the loose fragments of rock on the shore, where it was found by Mr. Fitton, partly covered with wet sand. The wind at the time was south-west, and had been blowing hard from north-west to west and south-west for some days.'

Yarrell (1845 (2): viii-ix, 2nd ed.) under 'Preface' and (1856: 23, 2nd supp.) says: 'At the evening meeting of the Zoological Society in September 1845, Edward B. Fitton, exhibited a fine specimen of this bird, which he had picked up dead upon the shore at Exmouth, on the 17th of that month. It appeared to have been injured on the back of the head, and to have crept into a crevice of one of the loose fragments of rock on the shore, where it was found by Mr. Fitton.

The wind at the time was south-west, and had been blowing hard from north-west to west and south-west for some days.

This bird, while in the flesh, I examined with Mr. Fitton; on dissection it proved to be an adult male, I believe in its second year. The stomach was empty. When, some time afterwards, Mr. Edward Fitton went to reside permanently at the Canterbury Settlement, in New Zealand, he very kindly sent me the bird, as a remembrance, and the representation preceding this subject was drawn from his specimen.'

J. H. Gurney, jun. (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4695, says: 'Mr. Fitton's specimen, which was washed ashore at Exmouth, is now in Mr. Van Voorst's possession.'

Admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU 1883) and accepted locally (D'Urban & Mathew 1892: 73).

W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 13, list this under American White-winged Crossbill.

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 655, say: 'Yarrell accepted it as the American race, but from illustrations and other data this is not confirmatory. The story of it creeping into a crevice also led to doubt by the BOURC and is unacceptable.'

Comment Yarrell (1845) stated 1835 erroneously instead of 1845. This was the second record of the American form. Not acceptable.

0). 1845 Derbyshire Mickleover, female, shot, 21st November.

(R. J. Bell, Zoologist 1846: 1247-1248; Yarrell, 1856; Mosley, 1863; Newman, 1866; Harting, 1875; Yarrell, 1871-85; Frost, 1978; Frost & Shaw, 2013).

[A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History Robert J. Bell of Mickleover (1846) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. IV. pp. 1247-1248, says: 'Was shot in my garden at Mickleover, a female of the White-winged Crossbill and it is now in my collection. This bird came along with a flock of Fieldfares, and suddenly alighted from them upon a fir-tree, where uttering a peculiar note, caused it to be shot without at all being aware of what it was.'

Yarrell (1856: 20, 2nd supp.) says: 'One was killed near Derby when associating with Fieldfares.'

Edwin Brown in Mosley (1863) p. 100, under 'White-winged Crossbill' says: 'A female was killed at Mickleover on the 21st of November, 1845.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "Mr. R. J. Bell mentions (Zool., p. 1247) a hen, shot in February, 1841, near Bonjedward in Roxburghshire".'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 656, say: 'Probably genuine but lacks adequate documentation.'

However, Frost & Shaw (2013) chose to ignore this paper and accept it as the first for Derbyshire!

0). 1846 Nottinghamshire Edwinstowe, five, three shot, c. 28th March.

(W. M. E. Milner, Zoologist 1847: 1694; Felkin, 1866; Sterland & Whitaker, 1879; Yarrell, 1871-85; Whitaker, 1907; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 13).

[Harting, 1901; A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan, British Birds 100: 650-657].

History W. M. E. Milner of Nunappleton, Tadcaster (1847) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. V. p. 1694, dated 30th March, 1847, says: '...December, 1845....In the March following, five of the same species were seen at Edwinstowe, near Ollerton, in some high fir-trees in Budby Forest, and two females and a male were killed; these are in my collection. It appears to Mr. Reid, through whose hands the whole have been, as well as myself, that the birds in question are decidedly different from the American White-winged Crossbill, of which I have several specimens. Our birds are nearly as large as the Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra); the bill nearly as thick again as in the American species, and the legs lighter in colour and much thicker; the white bars on the wings very distinctly marked both in the male and female, and the colour of both sexes very like that of the Common Crossbill.'

Felkin (1866: 49) says: 'Mr. H. Wells, also shot a pair of the White-winged Crossbill the same year [1848], in the same forest [Edwinstowe]; they were placed by Mr. H. Reid in the collection of Sir Wm. Milner, Nunappleton, Yorkshire.'

Sterland & Whitaker (1879: 26) say: 'At the end of March, 1849, four of this still rarer bird were shot in the same trees as the preceding by H. Wells. There seems little doubt that these were the American, and not the European species, as a pair of them was secured by the late Mr. Reid of Doncaster for the collection of Sir Wm. Milner, of Nun Appleton, who would be scarcely likely to mistake one for the other.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "Mr. Sterland says that four were shot at Edwinstowe, in Nottinghamshire, in the spring of 1849. Several of these particulars having hitherto been erroneously given by various authors, the foregoing list, which, so far as it goes, is believed to be accurate, may be found useful.'

Whitaker (1907: 104) says: 'Within a few days after Mr. Wells had shot the Parrot Crossbills he killed four of these in the same trees at Edwinstowe, about 28th March 1849. A curious piece of luck to get two such rare species within such a short time.'

W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 13, list this under American White-winged Crossbill. However, A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 650-657, do not accept any records of the American race.

Comment Some discrepancy over how many were shot and the actual year of occurrence. It would appear Mr. Wells is unreliable and had some amazing luck. Not acceptable.

0). 1848 Northamptonshire Near Northampton, female, wounded, winter.

(Morris, 1851-57; Lilford, Lord, 1895).

[Taylor MS., 1959].

History Morris (1852 (3): 140) says: 'A White-winged Crossbill, a female bird, was shot near Northampton in the winter of the year 1848. It was kept alive for four months. Of this Mr. William Felkin, Jun., of Carrington, near Nottingham, has obligingly informed me.'

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0) Pre 1849 Surrey Unsted Wood, Godalming, male, shot, undated.

(Newman, 1849; Yarrell, 1871-85; Bucknill, 1900).

[KAN].

History Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "[J.D.] Salmon, in a contribution to Newman's 'Letters of Rusticus', published in 1849 (p. 158), notices a cock bird shot in Unsted Wood, Surrey, and then belonging to Mr. Nicholson of Waverley Abbey".'

Accepted locally (Bucknill 1900: 123) and by Wheatley (2007: 605) who says: 'Newman said it was of the Eurasian race bifasciata (Newman 1949).'

Comment Presumably Newman examined this specimen. However, it is stated to have been prior to publication in 1849, and with the first accepted records in 1846, it is unclear whether this could be a first for Britain or that it also occurred in the invasion in the winter of 1845-46, which would be more likely. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record and supporting details. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1852 Somerset Taunton, obtained, undated.

(C. Prideaux, Zoologist 1852: 3474; Harting, 1872; Yarrell, 1871-85).

[M. A. Mathew, Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society 39: 113; Palmer & Ballance, 1968].

History Charles Prideaux of Kingsbridge (1852) in The Zoologist, 1st series, Vol. X. p. 3474, dated 24th April, 1852, says: 'I append a list of a few very rare birds which have lately occurred for the most part in this neighbourhood. - The following are also among my birds: - White-winged Crossbill, Taunton, Somerset.'

Alfred Newton (1876-82 (2): 212, 4th ed.) in Yarrell's British Birds, in a footnote, says: 'Of instances in which "White-winged Crossbills" are said to have occurred without the distinction between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms being observed or capable of later determination the following may be noted: - "Mr. Prideaux in 1852 recorded (Zool. 3474) one at Taunton, without giving any date for it".'

M. A. Mathew (1893) in the Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological & Natural History Society, Vol. XXXIX. p. 113, placing the record in square-brackets, says: '...It was probably mounted from a foreign skin.'

Not accepted locally (Palmer & Ballance 1968).

Comment Probably imported. Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Lacks supporting details. Not acceptable.

0). c. 1867 Gloucestershire Near Cheltenham, two, shot, undated.

(Mellersh, 1902).

[Swaine, 1982].

History Mellersh (1902) says: 'Two shot near Cheltenham about 1867 out of a flock of Crossbills.'

Not accepted locally (Swaine 1982).

0). 1870 At sea Sea area Thames, off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, female, caught alive on the boat Beecher Stowe, October, kept in H. Stevenson's aviary until December, 1874, now at Castle Museum, Norwich.

(H. Stevenson, Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society 1: 117; J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1875: 4695; Lubbock, 1879; Patterson, 1905; W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter, British Birds 48: 13).

[Southwell, 1890; Saunders, 1899; Riviere, 1930; Ticehurst, 1932; Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling, 1999].

History Henry Stevenson (1874-79) in the Transactions of the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society, Vol. I. pp. 117-118, says: 'American White-winged Crossbill. On the 9th of October, 1872, Mr. John Henry Gurney, junior, purchased alive, of a man named Harvey, at Yarmouth, (son of the noted game dealer of that name, mentioned by Messrs. Paget), a female example of this crossbill, which, until recognised by Mr. Gurney as a rarity, had been taken for the common species.

According to Harvey's account, it was caught on the rigging of a vessel named the Beecher Stowe, which arrived at Yarmouth in October, 1870. It was then in a wretched state of plumage from close confinement, but had since been kept as a pet by Harvey, and was extremely tame. Yarrell, who included both this and the European White-winged Crossbill, (which has also occurred in this county), in the 3rd ed. of his British Birds, gives but one instance of this American species having been recognised in England - a male found dead on the shore at Exmouth, on the 17th of October, 1845; and I am not aware that it has been met with since.

Whether Mr. Gurney's bird came on board the Beecher Stowe in mid-ocean, or near land, is not known, but being still alive when brought ashore, though in so deplorable a condition, it could not, I think, have been long before the arrival of the vessel in port. Mr. Gurney has very kindly placed this most interesting bird in my aviary, where, like other crossbills, it climbs over the wires, after the manner of a parrot, by aid of its bill and feet, and feeds out of the hand with perfect confidence. In drinking from a shallow pool it lays its head down sideways and thus sips the water, without inconvenience from its crossed bill, a peculiarity I have never seen recorded of the crossbill tribe.

It is not an unusual circumstance, I understand, for Common Crossbills, caught on board smacks and coasting vessels, to be brought into Yarmouth.'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1875) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. X. p. 4695, says: 'An account of an American White-winged Crossbill ( Loxia leucoptera) of mine, which flew on board the vessel "Beecher Stowe" in the North Sea, appears in the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists' Society Transactions for 1873 (p. 117).

I placed it in the aviary of Mr. Stevenson, but it died while I was in Egypt, after living nearly five years in confinement. As it is such a rare bird I think it worth sending a note to you about it. Mr. Fitton's specimen, which was washed ashore at Exmouth, is now in Mr. Van Voorst's possession.'

Admitted nationally in their first List of British Birds (BOU (1983).

Southwell, Editor (1890 (3): 413) in Stevenson's Birds of Norfolk, under 'Appendix D' (species discarded from the Norfolk List), says: 'A crossbill, purchased by Mr. J. H. Gurney on the 9th October, 1872, as having been taken alive on the rigging of a vessel which arrived at Yarmouth in October, 1870, proved to be the American form L. leucoptera. This bird lived in Mr. Stevenson's aviary till December, 1874.'

Patterson (1905) adds: 'An example of the American variety is said to have been taken on the rigging of a vessel which arrived at Yarmouth in October 1870. This bird lived in Mr. Stevenson's aviary until 1874.'

Riviere (1930: 24) says: 'A live specimen purchased by Gurney on 9th October 1872, said to have been caught on the rigging of a vessel which came into Yarmouth in October, 1870, proved to be of the American form and was denied, for obvious reasons, a place in the British list by Howard Saunders (1899) 2nd edit.

Ticehurst (1932: 84) rejected it on the grounds no one knew where it came aboard and is not a genuine visitor either to Norfolk or Suffolk.

W. B. Alexander & R. S. R. Fitter (1955) in British Birds, Vol. XLVIII. p. 13, list this under American White-winged Crossbill.

Taylor, Seago, Allard & Dorling (1999) agree with Riviere's details and rejection, but add that '...it is still in the Castle Museum, Norwich.'

A. H. J. Harrop, A. G. Knox & R. Y. McGowan (2007) in British Birds, Vol. C. p. 650-657, do not accept any records of the American race.

0). 1872 Perth & Kinross Kinfauns Woods, seven/eight, seen, undated.

(H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 4: 290; H. M. Drummond Hay, Scottish Naturalist 5: 249; H. M. Drummond Hay, Proceedings of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists' Societies 1886: 31).

[Harvie-Brown, 1906].

History H. M. Drummond Hay (1877-78) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. IV. p. 290, says: 'About six or seven years ago, what I took to be these birds were seen by me in the Kinfauns woods, in a small party of six or seven; but I was unable to obtain a specimen.'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1879-80) in the Scottish Naturalist, Vol. V. p. 249, says: 'Some few years ago, what I took to be the American White-winged Crossbill was seen by me in the Kinfauns woods, near Perth, in a small party of six or seven; but I was unable to obtain a specimen. Knowing the bird well in Nova Scotia, I hardly think I could be mistaken.'

H. M. Drummond Hay (1886) in the Proceedings of the East of Scotland Union of Naturalists' Societies, p. 31, says: 'American White-winged Crossbill. A small flock of seven or eight was noticed by myself in the Kinfauns woods, about 1872. This is not the first notice of these birds having been seen in Scotland, as it is mentioned by Mr. Gray that a specimen was shot at Jedbergh in Feb., 1841; and Mr. Thomas Edward records a large flock as having been seen near the town of Banff in 1859 (Bds. W. Scot., p. 156).'

Not accepted locally as the record was placed in square brackets (Harvie-Brown 1906: 128-129)

Comment Not specifically identified. Not acceptable.

0). 1876 Greater London/Surrey East Molesey, seen, undated.

(R. Mitford, Zoologist 1876: 4835-36; Self, 2014).

[Bucknill, 1900].

History Robert Mitford (1876) in The Zoologist, 2nd series, Vol. XI. pp. 4835-36, dated 9th February, 1876, says: 'When you have perused the enclosed note, I think you will agree with me that we have had without doubt a visit from a specimen of that rare bird, the White-winged Crossbill, in the vicinity of London.' [I subjoin the letter obligingly forwarded by Mr. Mitford, and written by his son: - "East Moseley, February 7th, 1876. My dear Father, - The bird in question was by itself when I saw it, - once, and then only for a second or two. It was very shy. Ross saw it two or three times, but he has not seen it lately: it has always been by itself, - no others of the same or any sort of crossbill were with it, - although during the time it was about Lady C.'s place there were a good many of the Common Crossbill there. Just at that time, a fortnight or three weeks ago, I was up there a good deal, and saw several crossbills every day I was there.

Ross knows all the birds he saw there just as well as I do, and he told me before I saw the bird in question that he had seen a beautiful crossbill with white bars on its wings (these were his own words). I immediately thought of the White-winged Crossbill....Although I only saw the bird for an instant, yet I feel perfectly convinced it was a crossbill, because it had a peculiar flight; the black and white bars on the wings were very conspicuous, and such as I had never seen before in any bird".

I believe I had the pleasure of first recording the occurrence of a second species of White-winged Crossbill in England, in The Zoologist for November, 1848, and of correctly applying the specific name and synonyms as now adopted, but my late friend Henry Doubleday, as there stated, deserves all the credit of detecting that the species generally known by that name was not identical with the White-winged Crossbill of the continent....Of course it cannot be decided to which of the two species the bird seen by Mr. Mitford belongs. - Edward Newman.]

Bucknill (1900: 124) says: 'Another bird, apparently of this species, was observed near East Molesey by two persons, on more than one separate occasion, in the beginning of February, 1876, and recorded at some length in the Zool., 1876, p. 4835.'

Comment Not seen well enough and not even the occurrence is dated. Self (2014) accepts the record even though Bucknill didn't. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1882 Highland Rothiemurchus Forest, Badenoch & Strathspey, male, obtained, undated.

(G. Bolam, British Birds 5: 24-25).

[Saunders, 1899].

History G. Bolam (1911) in British Birds, Vol. V. pp. 24-25, says: 'In looking over some back numbers of British Birds, my attention was drawn to the note by Mr. William Evans in Vol. III. p. 306, and although it can hardly pass as a good "record", perhaps the following note from one of my old journals may be of interest to some of your readers, and may possibly lead to the tracing of the further history of the specimen by someone resident in the north: - When in Inverness on August 15th, 1882, I saw in the shop of Mr. Henderson, taxidermist and gun-maker, a very good specimen of Loxia bifasciata, along with eight or ten Common Crossbills, all of which, I was informed, had been lately received from, and set up for, some local gentleman, a statement which their condition seemed quite to bear out.

The Two-barred Crossbill was in full red plumage, and very bright, but I did not, unfortunately, make any further note of it, but my recollection is that I was told that the birds came from the Rothiemurchus district.'

Saunders (1899, 2nd ed.) only listed one Scottish example and that occurred in Orkney in 1894.

Comment Lacks a precise date for a scientific record. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1884 Surrey Munstead Heath, Godalming, shot, undated.

(Surrey Art Loan Exhibition Catalogue, 1884; Bucknill, 1900; Wheatley, 2007).

[KAN].

History Bucknill (1900: 123) says: 'The Charterhouse collection contains an old specimen shot on Munstead Heath, near Godalming, by Mr. J. P. Stafford.' Locally, Wheatley (2007: 605) adds that it is no longer in the collection.

Comment Munstead Heath is but a stone's throw away from Unsted Wood, both sites to the south of Godalming and presumed by this author to be one and the same record as the the one occurring prior to 1849 in Surrey. Bucknill appears to have made two records from the one occasion.

0). 1889 Suffolk Brandon, seen, September.

(Christy, 1890; Ticehurst, 1932; Payn, 1978).

[Ticehurst, 1932].

History Ticehurst (1932: 84) says: 'In 1889 another invasion of this species occurred. The Rev. Julian Tuck asked Mr. William Boughton of Brandon, who had sent him some Crossbills, to look out for some of the Two-barred species, and on 9th February 1889 he received a letter from Mr. Boughton stating that one or two "with the white bars on the wings had been seen".'

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not acceptable.

0). 1892 Norfolk Great Yarmouth, juvenile, 7th August.

(J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1892: 400).

[J. H. Gurney, jun., Zoologist 1893: 150].

History J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1892) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XVI. p. 400, says: 'Mr. G. Smith reported an immature Two-barred Crossbill at Yarmouth on August 7th.'

Riviere (1930: 24) says: 'A third alleged specimen [for Norfolk] reported by G. Smith to have been taken at Yarmouth, on 7th August 1892, proved to be a Common Crossbill in juvenile plumage (Gurney, Zoologist 1898, p. 150).'

J. H. Gurney, jun., of Norwich (1893) in The Zoologist, 3rd series, Vol. XVII. p. 150, says: 'In The Zoologist, 1892 (p. 400), a Two-barred Crossbill is recorded to have been obtained at Yarmouth; but it turns out to be only a very streaky young Common Crossbill, with faint buff tips on its wing-coverts, such as led Brehm to institute his Crucirostra rubrifasciata.'

Comment Misidentified. Not acceptable.

0). Pre 1897 Surrey Near Godalming, shot, undated.

(Bucknill, 1900; Wheatley, 2007).

[KAN].

History Bucknill (1900: 123) says: 'Mr. Borrer informed me that he had one in his possession shot many years ago, also near Godalming. It was purchased by him at the sale of a collection belonging to Mr. Munro, and was killed whilst in company with a flock of L. curvirostra (1897 in litt.).'

Booth (1901: 215, 3rd ed.) says: 'Shot near Godalming, Surrey. Given to the late Mr. Borrer by Mr. W. W. Reeves of Tunbridge Wells, Kent.'

Wheatley (2007: 605-606) says: 'In the 1927 Catalogue of Booth Museum it was stated to be in Case 464, but this could not be located in January 2005 when visited. A male Two-barred Crossbill was found in a case of Parrot Crossbills and this may be the specimen.'

Comment Conflicting reports about the chain of ownership. It is now at the Booth Museum, Brighton. This specimen could also be the one from 1889 at Godalming, making this a duplicate record. Not acceptable.

0). 1899 Sussex Westfield, adult male, obtained, 23rd February.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 8: 59; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 247; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1899) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. VIII. p. 59, at the 63rd Meeting of the Club held on 21st June 1899 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. N. F. Ticehurst exhibited a fine example of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) which had been obtained in East Sussex on the 23rd of February.'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 247, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 111) who adds: 'This specimen passed into Sir Vauncey Crewe's collection.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1902 Kent Woodchurch, female, shot, 26th December.

(R. Bowdler Sharpe, Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 13: 51; N. F. Ticehurst, Zoologist 1903: 420; H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst, British Birds 1: 247; Ticehurst, 1909).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History R. Bowdler Sharpe, Editor (1903) in the Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Vol. XIII. p. 51, at the 94th Meeting of the Club held on 18th February 1903 at the Restaurant Frascati, London, says: 'Mr. Ticehurst also recorded the occurrence of the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata) for the first time in Kent, a female specimen having been shot by Mr. H. Dale, on Cold Blow Farm, Woodchurch, on the 26th of December, 1902.'

N. F. Ticehurst (1903) in The Zoologist, 4th series, Vol. VII. p. 420, says: 'December 26th. A female two-barred Crossbill (Loxia bifasciata), shot by Mr. H. Dale, at Woodchurch, in Kent. It was a dull grey-brown bird, with a slight tinge of yellowish-green on the flanks, and a poor specimen from being kept a long time before it was skinned. It was exhibited on my behalf at the British Ornithologists' Club (vide Bull. B.O.C., XCV.).'

Admitted by H. F. Witherby & N. F. Ticehurst (1908) in British Birds, Vol. I. p. 247, under 'On the More Important Additions to our Knowledge of British Birds since 1899'.

Ticehurst (1909: 171) says: '...When I saw it at Mr. Bristow's soon after he received it, it was rather "high", and damaged by shot. It was a dull grey-brown bird, with a slight tinge of yellowish-green on the flanks and the dirty white double wing-bar was well marked. It was exhibited on my behalf at the British Ornithologists' Club on February 18th, 1903, and is now in Mr. Boyd Alexander's collection.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1908 Sussex Penhurst, pair, shot, 10th March.

(E. N. Bloomfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 1: 187; J. B. Nichols, British Birds 2: 165; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History E. N. Bloomfield (1908) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. I. p. 187, says: 'Dr. N. F. Ticehurst has most kindly sent me a long list of rare birds which have occurred in our own and neighbouring districts, to which Mr. Butterfield has added some notes. In the Hastings district - Loxia bifasciata, C. L. Brehm, Two-barred Crossbill, male and female, Penhurst, March 11th, 1908.'

J. B. Nichols (1908) in British Birds, Vol. II. p. 165, says: 'It may be interesting to record that a fine pair of Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia bifasciata) were shot together at Penhurst, near Ashburnham, Sussex, on March 10th, 1908. The cock is in fine red plumage, the hen in yellow. They were seen in the flesh by Mr. W. R. Butterfield after being sent to Mr. Bristow of St. Leonards. They are now in my collection.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 111).

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1914 Sussex Netherfield, four, seen, pair, shot, 15th January, two now at Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Acc. No. 1962Z10.572 & 573).

(H. W. Ford-Lindsay, British Birds 7: 292; N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 170; Walpole-Bond, 1938; Watson, 2010).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History H. W. Ford-Lindsay (1914) in British Birds, Vol. VII. p. 292, says: 'On January 15th, 1914, a pair of Two-barred Crossbills (Loxia L. bifasciata) were obtained at Netherfield, Sussex. When seen they were in company with a number of Common Crossbills. I saw the birds in the flesh on the following day, when I was informed that at least a couple more were present in the flock, as the white bars were distinctly visible as the birds flew away.'

N. F. Ticehurst (1917) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. II. p. 170, says: 'Two-barred Crossbill. Mr. Ford-Lindsay reports that a pair were obtained at Netherfield on 15 January, and a beautiful female, obtained in the same district on 20 January, was presented to the Museum by Mr. Mullens.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 111).

Watson (2010) in detailing the J. L. Auden collection in the Birmingham Museum lists a male and female specimens that were obtained at Netherfield, Sussex on 12th January 1914, without further detail.

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1914 Sussex Netherfield, female, 20th January, now at the Hastings Museum.

(N. F. Ticehurst, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 2: 170; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History N. F. Ticehurst (1917) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. II. p. 170, says: 'Two-barred Crossbill. Mr. Ford-Lindsay reports that a pair were obtained at Netherfield on 15 January, and a beautiful female, obtained in the same district on 20 January, was presented to the Museum by Mr. Mullens.'

Accepted locally by Walpole-Bond (1938 (1): 111) who adds: '...now at the Hastings Museum.'

Comment Hastings rarity. Not acceptable.

0). 1917 Sussex Westfield, five, seen, 8th February.

(W. R. Butterfield, Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist 3: 76; Walpole-Bond, 1938).

[E. M. Nicholson & I. J. Ferguson-Lees, British Birds 55: 299-384 HR].

History W. R. Butterfield (1919) in the Hastings and East Sussex Naturalist, Vol. III. p. 76, says: 'Mr. W. H. Mullens reports that a party of five was seen at Westfield Place on February 8th.'

Accepted locally (Walpole-Bond 1938 (1): 111).

Comment Hastings rarities. Not acceptable.

0). 1917 Dorset Westham, pair, seen, 4th June.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 39: 49; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 170).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 61: 140; Boys, 1973].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1918) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XXXIX. p. 49, under 'New Species of Birds observed in Dorset', says: 'Mr. S. H. Wallis, of Weymouth, stated that he saw a pair of these birds in an apple tree at Westham at a distance of a few yards, on June 4th, 1917.'

Admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1934) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LV. p. 170, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset'. However, it was not admitted by F. L. Blathwayt (1940) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol. LXI. p. 140, under 'A Revised List of the Birds of Dorset', who now places the record in square-brackets. Locally, it was not admitted later by Boys (1973).

0). 1922 Dorset Sherborne, female, seen, 19th January.

(F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club 44: 106; F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 55: 170).

[F. L. Blathwayt, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Antiquarian Society 61: 140; Boys, 1973].

History F. L. Blathwayt (1918) in the Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History Society and Antiquarian Field Club, Vol. XLIV. p. 106, in the Annual Report for 1922, says: 'On January 19th, Mr. E. A. Rawlence, of Salisbury, watched a female of this species, at close range, feeding in a garden at Sherborne, on the berries of a briar rose. He is quite sure of the identity and verified his observation at the Cromwell Road Museum, London.'

0). 1931 Dumfries & Galloway No location, eleven, seen, undated.

(J. G. Young, Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History Society (3rd series) 82: 31-40).

[KAN].

History J. Young (2008) in the Transactions of the Dumfries and Galloway Natural History & Antiquarian Society, 3rd series, Vol. LXXXII. p. 39, under 'Extracts from the Notebook of the Late James H. Wilson: A Glencaple Wildfowler 1872-1947', says: 'In the year 1931 coming off from the fishing one day, walked right into a small flock of birds and seen they were strangers. Put them down as Two-barred Crossbills, wrote to Mr. Gladstone, but the bird is that rare that he could not take it in, so went down and shot one which I suspect he has set up, I think if I remember right there were 11 of them, my sons also seen them first. The Common Crossbill I have seen often but never this one.'

Comment No identification details for this sight record of a difficult species. Not known to have been seen by a competent authority. Not acceptable.

0). 1943 Nottinghamshire Wollaton Park, male, seen, 22nd December.

(R. J. Raines, British Birds 37: 212; J. Staton, Report on the Birds of Nottinghamshire 1943: 6).

[Reece, 2009].

History R. J. Raines (1944) in British Birds, Vol. XXXVII. p. 212, says: 'Since the Two-barred Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera bifasciata) has not been recorded from this county for a considerable time (I can find only one old record, cf. J. Whitaker, Zoologist, 1902, p.353), this report may be of interest.

On December 22nd, 1943, while at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, I had an excellent view for about ten minutes of a male of this species whilst it was perched in an oak. The colour of the bird was a bright pink. The wing-bars were seen quite distinctly both when the bird was at rest, when they showed as two fairly broad white patches, and while it flew among the tree tops. No call was heard owing to the noise of other birds in the vicinity. The woods and vicinity are rich in larch and conifer trees.'

Not accepted locally (Reece 2009).

AC pass

Keith Naylor

Two-barred Crossbill

Loxia leucoptera (Gmelin, JF, 1789) (70, 1)

Parrot Crossbill

European Serin