32 



and tipped with white ; entire under surface pale yellow, washed 

 with olive in the centre of breast and abdomen ; beak, legs and 

 feet same as the male. 



Habitat : Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru. 

 * ■* * 



The American Siskin. 

 ( Chrysomitris trisiis). 



This is a very brilliant species, a male in summer dress 

 being a fine fellow indeed. Its brilliant Canary-yellow plumage 

 makes it a conspicuous object in the out-door aviary, and an 

 altogether charming bird in a mixed series. 



In its native country it is well off for trivial names : The 

 Goldfinch (its most common appellation*), Wild Canary, Thistle 

 Bird, Yellow Bird and Lettuce Bird, as well as the name by 

 which it is principally known in this country The American 

 Siskin. The following extracts are from H. Nearling's attractive 

 book, " Our Native Birds of Song and Beauty." 



" It is an abundant and familiar species and is resident in the whole 



'•of temperate Nortli America. The nest is a very neat cup-shaped 



" structure, composed of compactly woven plant fibres, etc., lined with 

 "plant down and other soft materials, placed in tall bushes or low trees. 

 "Eggs pale bluish or bluish white." 



The same writer states that wild birds captured when 

 adult rarely live more than a year when confined in a cage, that 

 if taken young he has known them to live thirteen or more years 

 under the conditions of cage life. He recommends a diet of 

 Canary, flax, hemp, rape, oat-grits and lettuce seed, generally 

 diminishing in favour in the order named. 



Adult male: In summer dress or breeding plumage, the 

 principal body colouring is brilliant Canary-yellow, with the 

 wings, tail and top of head to middle of crown black, with lighter 

 edges to most of the wing feathers; and the coverts and primaries 

 narrowly edged or tipped with white ; the inner edges of the 

 ends of tail feathers are white ; nape, mantle and back washed 

 with olive; beak pinkish-flesh colour; legs and feet brownish- 

 flesh colour. Total length \\ inches full ; tail 2 inches. It has 

 a winter plumage, and is then a comparatively dingy bird com- 

 pared with its gay summer attire. Principal body colouring 



