THE SISKIN HEDGE-SPARROW — CAT-BIRD. 



195 





THE SISKIX. 



"The Siskin is a common bird in all the high parts of Aberdeenshire, 



which abound in fir-woods. They 

 build generally near the extremi- 

 ties of the branches of tall fir-trees, 

 or near the summit of the tree. 

 Sometimes the nest is found in 

 plantations of young fir- wood. In 

 one instance, I met with a nest not 

 three feet from the ground. I 

 visited it every day until four or 

 five eggs were deposited. During 

 incubation the female showed no 

 fear at my approach. On bringing 

 my hand close to the nest, she 

 THE SI8KIX. showed some inclination to pug- 



nacity, and tried to frighten me 

 away with her open bill, following my hand round and round when 

 I attempted to touch her. At last she would only look anxiously 

 round to my finger without making any attack on me. The nest was 

 formed of small twigs of birch or lieath outside, and neatly lined 

 with hair." Its eggs are a bluish-white spotted with purplish-red, 



THE HEDGE-ACCENTOR, OR HEDGE-SPAKROW. 



The Iledge- Accentor, or Hedge-Sparrow, is one of our commonest 



English birds, closely resembling 

 the common Sparrow, in appear- 

 ance. The nest is built in holes, 

 and contains five blue eggs like 

 those of the Redstart, but stouter 

 in shape, and of a deeper blue. 



It is often very bold when en- 

 gaged in sitting, and will permit 

 a near approach without leaving- 

 the nest. I have repeatedly 

 visited the nest of one of these 

 birds while the female was sittings 

 and have parted the boughs of 

 . the shrub where the nest was 



placed, in order to get a good view, while the hen bird still sat 

 quietly in the nest anxiously watching every movement but not 

 attempting to stir. 



HEDGE ACCENTOa. 



THE CAT-BIRD. 



ihis quaint and familiar songster passes the winter in the southern 

 extremities of the United States. About the middle of April they are 



