50 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The neat, Chaffinch-like nest, compactly built of fine roots 

 and bents filled in with moss and lichens and lined with thistle- 

 down and wool, is often in an orchard tree, but sometimes in a 

 hedge, thorn, brier or furze. Farms, orchards and gardens 

 attract it. Four to six eggs are laid in May ; they are similar 

 to but rather smaller than those of the Greenfinch (Plate 34). 

 A second brood is often reared. 



So popular a bird has many names — Knicker and Red Linnet 

 are common. Sheriff's man and Seven-coloured Linnet more 

 local. Macgillivray called it the Thistlefinch. In captivity it 

 will cross with other finches, and wild hybrids have been 

 reported, but usually by imaginative bird-catchers. 



The crimson and black on the face and throat contrast with 

 the bands of white. Except for a small white patch on the 

 neck the upper parts are wood-brown, shading into white. The 

 black wings are crossed by a broad bright yellow band, and 

 the feathers are tipped with white. There are white tips and 

 spots on the black tail feathers. The under tail-coverts and 

 belly are white, the flanks buff. The sexes are practically 

 alike, but the young, which lack the head markings, are greyish 

 brown, with more or less distinct streaks of darker brown. The 

 bill is white tinged with pink ; the legs are flesh-coloured, and 

 the irides brown. Length, 5 ins. Wing, 3 ins. Tarsus, '6 in. 



Siskin. Spinus splmis (Linn.). 



Although a resident, nesting occasionally in England and 

 Wales, especially in northern counties, and regularly in certain 

 localities in Scotland and Ireland, the Siskin (Plate 20) is best 

 known as a winter visitor. The migrants arrive in September 

 or October, leaving again in April or May. It breeds in 

 northern Europe and Asia, and in mountainous parts of central 

 Europe, and winters in the Mediterranean Basin. 



