SISKIN 161 



Sparrows and Linnets, during severe weather. But when 

 the fine open winters are warm the Siskins usually 

 remain in pairs, and by this it appears that they are not 

 so sociable, and prefer to have a solitary or married life. 



With regard to the species having bred in Kent, no 

 satisfactory evidence or data have been recorded. 



In the last edition of Yarrell's British Birds (1871-74), 

 Professor Newton says that " Latham, in a note to the 

 edition of Pennant's British Zoology published in 1812, 

 states that he received from Lewin a male and female 

 shot in summer in the latter's garden in Kent." The 

 Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, calls this bird 

 " the Siskin or Aberdevine, and that it arrived at the 

 end of autumn in considerable flocks." 



There are several specimens of males and females of 

 this species, which were obtained on the following dates : 

 January, 1877, December 9, 12, 13, 1887, and January 3, 

 1888, in the collection of the Hon. Walter Kothschild, 

 which were all obtained at Tovil, near Maidstone, in 

 Kent. 



There are three males and two females in the Maid- 

 stone Museum from Tovil, procured on December 12, 

 1890, and presented by K. J. Balston, Esq. Dr. A. G. 

 Butler, writing about 1903, says : " I am tolerably sure 

 that the Siskin has bred at Keston in Kent." Mr. R. T. 

 Filmer noticed in the autumn of 1904 a pair in the 

 company of Redpolls in alder-beds, in the railway cutting 

 at Orlestone ; and during the autumn of 1905 several 

 l)airs were met with on the road to Ashford, and also at 

 Ruckinge and Bilsington. 



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