1904. Notes. 97 



Siskin breeding in Co. Wicklow. 



The Siskin is by no means a rare breeder in this county. To my 

 certain knowledge it breeds at Glendalough, Lough Dan, Luggela, in 

 the vicinity of Laragh, and I believe it to breed in many other parts 

 of the Co. Wicklow, but have no proof as yet. In the month of May, 

 1901, I found in one day three nests at Glendalough— two of them 

 had three eggs in each— the third, on which the bird was sitting, I 

 did not climb to, as the branch was so slender I was afraid to venture 

 down it, knowing the risk of upsetting the contents. The height of the 

 Siskin's nest from the ground seems to vary. I have found them very 

 high up (both at the end of a branch and against the main stem of a 

 tree), and also very low down. One nest, near Laragh, was not eight 

 feet from the ground ; another in the same locality was about twelve 

 feet. The birds are very tame during the breeding season, and when on 

 the nest will let you almost put your hand on them before they will stir. 

 Last year I found a nest with six eggs, on which the bird was sitting 

 so tightly that I had to remove her with a piece of stick. The nests are 

 easily found if one watches the birds, as they appear to take no precau- 

 tion to put you off the track, as some of the other species do, but, on the 

 contrary, they will lead you direct to their tidy little abode. One nest 

 to which I climbed, while sitting on the branch admiring the structure, 

 with its mistress sitting tightly thereon, the male bird came and 

 perched on an adjoining bough, and sang the sweetest song I have ever 

 heard. There is no doubt as to the thieving propensities (mentioned 

 by Rev. Wm. W. Flemyng, I.N., February, 1904) of the Siskin when 

 building its nest, as I have watched it on more than one occasion taking 

 moss from the nest of a Chaffinch, and once from the nest of one 

 of its own species. 



CHART.I5S Br.AKE Knox. 



8 Milward Terrace, Bray. 



Winter Visitors. 



The following rare specimens have been received by us for preservation 

 during the past few months, and the appearance of so many arctic 

 visitors betokens severe weather in the north. 



On the i6th September we received an adult Brent Goose {Anser 

 bernicla) which was shot at Buttevant, an inland localit}', by the Rev. 

 F. Coughlan. This early appearance is worth noting. 



An adult male Long-tailed Xy^x(lk{Anas glacialis)^d.^ sent us from Kilkee 

 on 27th October, and on the 6th Novem])er an Eider Duck {Somateria 

 fnollisitna), which was shot at the Old Head of Kinsale by Mr. J. 

 O'SuUivan. 



During the latter part of October and first week in November we 

 received about nine Short-eared Owls {Asio accipitrinus) from different 

 parts of the Co. Cork, this being the largest number of this bird we ever 

 obtained within the space of a week. 



