breeding in Confinement, 373 



building their nest of moss and cotton, with which materials 

 he supplied them. But they evinced a decided preference 

 for the cotton; for, on a considerable quantity of this substance 

 being introduced into the cage, when their pretty structure 

 was nearly finished, they tore it down, and immediately began 

 to rebuild it with their favourite material. When completed, 

 it was an elegant, warm, and cozy little habitation, similar in 

 construction to that of the chaffinch, but of smaller dimen- 

 sions. In it the female deposited an egg, which my friend 

 abstracted, with the intention of treating in the same manner 

 as those of the canary ; but the siskins did not seem to under- 

 stand this kind of treatment, and viewed it in the light of an 

 improper interference in their domestic concerns ; for they in- 

 stantly demolished that beautiful fabric which they had formed 

 with so much care and neatness, and in the afternoon of the 

 same day they were again at work upon a new dwelling, 

 which they finished early next morning. The female then 

 laid a second egg, and a third on the following day. During 

 the period of incubation, which lasted fourteen days, she never 

 once left the nest, so that no opportunity occurred of returning 

 the egg that had been previously abstracted. At the end of 

 the period mentioned, two young birds were hatched, both 

 males ; and never did infant progeny meet with more assidu- 

 ous attention and affectionate regard. It was, indeed, truly 

 delightful to observe how admirably these little songsters ful- 

 filled their parental duties ; the female constantly watching 

 over her callow charge with unwearied patience and unceas- 

 ing fondness, and the male participating in her sympathies, 

 cherishing her with his tenderest love, and abundantly supply- 

 ing her and his tiny offspring with food, so that she needed 

 not to disturb herself nor be absent from the nest for a mo- 

 ment. Their food consisted of hemp-seed, a little loaf-bread, 

 and bruised yolk of egg, with an occasional lettuce, of which 

 they appeared very fond. 



The young birds were fully fledged in fifteen days after 

 they had left the egg, and in a week more totally abandoned 

 the nest. In the beginning of September they were in full 

 song, and their notes were excellent imitations of the rich and 

 spirited melody of the canary, with which species they were 

 caged. They are at present in good thriving condition, and 

 my friend looks forward with the pleasing anticipation of rear- 

 ing two broods of siskins next season, and of communicating 

 his success to Mr. Loudon and his readers. 



For a number of years past the siskin has been a regular 

 winter visitant of ours, and occasionally a pair or two linger 

 with us during the breeding season, and produce their young. 



