130 KRIXG1LLIDJE. 



The nest of the Siskin is very like that of the Goldfinch 

 in structure, but is perhaps hardly so neat in appearance. 

 From what has been stated it will be seen that in England a 

 low situation has generally been chosen for it, but undoubt- 

 edly its normal position is on a high tree as is commonly 

 the case in Scotland and other countries. 'The eggs except 

 in size almost exactly resemble those of the Greenfinch, and 

 taken one by one can scarcely be distinguished from those of 

 the Goldfinch, though when a series of each is compared the 

 Siskins' have a slightly bluer tinge. They measure from 

 •7 to *62, by from *5 to '44 in. Some little attention being 

 paid to their needs or tastes — a green fir-branch placed in 

 their cage being often sufficient — a pair of Siskins will gene- 

 rally breed freely in confinement*, to which no bird becomes 

 sooner reconciled ; but the young are not frequently reared 

 under such circumstances, doubtless owing to the difficulty 

 the parents have in supplying the nestlings with proper food, 

 which is said to consist at first of Aphides. Siskins' eggs 

 laid in captivity often want the dark markings which are 

 seldom deficient in those of wild birds. 



In every English county this bird is now seen more or less 

 frequently from autumn to spring, being however rare in 

 Cornwall and perhaps commoner in the north of the kingdom 

 than in the south. Its tame and engaging disposition make 

 it a great favourite in the cage, and it is usually much sought 

 after by bird-catchers, with the greater eagerness perhaps 

 since when it appears it seldom stays very long in one place, 

 but moves off so soon as the supply of food becomes exhausted. 

 Under the name of I/uteola, which is Englished Siskin, it was 

 w r ell described as a bird of this country by Turner in 1544, but 

 he said it was rare and scarcely ever known out of a cage, 

 though he himself had once seen it in Cambridgeshire. Even 



* The earliest case on record of this fact in England seems to be by Mr. J. 

 Milne in 1830 (Mag. N. H. iii. p. 440). The Editor has more than once induced 

 these birds to breed in a small aviary. On the last occasion when they did so, 

 lie opened the cage-door so soon as the young were hatched, hoping that the 

 parents by having their liberty might rear their offspring more readily. To his 

 disappointment, however, the old birds never returned and left the nestlings to 

 starve. 



