The Siskin 67 



every tone and movement is fnll of auimation and delight, as if it were beside 

 itself witli pleasnre ; this is particularl}' the case in the nesting season, at which 

 time I have seen the male flying slowly towards some topmost spray of a fir-tree, 

 ponring forth his delightful little warbling song, which very much resembles that 

 of a Goldfinch, but is to my ears far sweeter. It vcr}- often sings when flying, 

 but more frequently when perching on some fir-tree top ; indeed the Siskin in 

 spring seems more like a visitor from a happier world." 



The Siskin usually places its nest high up, near the end of a lateral branch 

 of a fir- or Ijirch-tree, or even at the top against the main stem ; but the nest is 

 also said to be sometimes built quite low down in spruce, furze, or juniper bushes, 

 though Seebohm was inclined to doubt the correctness of the records iipon wdiich 

 this statement is based, Naumann having asserted tliat tl;c nest is always in con- 

 ifers, seldom less than twenty-five feet from the ground. The nest itself is neatly 

 constructed of moss and rootlets, upon a slight foundation of heather and bents, 

 and the lining consists of vegetable down, horsel]airs, and sometimes a few feathers. 

 The eggs number from five to six, and exactly resemble those of the Goldfinch 

 in size, colour, markings, and variations: they are bluish-green, usuallj' pale; 

 spotted, dotted, and sometimes streaked with dark chocolate-brown, and with lilacine 

 gre3dsh shell-markings ; as with the eggs of all the typical Finches, they vary 

 considerably in size.* 



Like all the true Finches the hen bird builds the first nest and incubates 

 alone, although the male as usual tries to help and only succeeds in hindering ; 

 whether he works in earnest at the second nest I do not know : but, from his 

 close relationship to the Goldfinch, he should be capable of doing so. 



The Siskin feeds largely on seeds of weeds and beech-mast ; but during the 

 breeding season it eats a considerable number of aphides, and probably small green 

 caterpillars, milky, unripe seeds of groundsel, sow-thistle, and similar weeds ; whilst 

 at all seasons, it is as mischievous as a Tit in destroying tender buds. In captivit}' 

 it eats the usual seeds, being especially fond of hemp and teasel, also soft food, 

 green food, and (although I do not approve of such food) it is as fond as the 

 Goldfinch and the whole of the Tits of picking a bone, clinging to it in all 

 positions, and behaving in every respect exactly like a Tit. The Siskin is one 

 of the most charming of all aviary birds, on account of its wonderfull}' confiding 

 nature. I turned a pair which I purchased in November, 1889, about three weeks 

 after their capture, into a large aviar}' ; and, in three daj-s, they had so thoroughl}- 

 learned to trust me, that they flew into my hand and disputed over poppy-seed 



* The cbataclers sjiveu b}- Howanl Saunders to distiuguish eggs of the Siskin from those of the Goldfinch 

 are only individual; I have known a Canary lay eggs as blue as those of a Bullfinch in one nest; and in the 

 next, considerably larger and almost white eggs: this is characteristic of all Fiingillincr which lay bluish eggs. 



