THE FINCHES— FAMILY FRINGILLID^ 



403 



its bill against tlieni as if wanting to escape, 

 tills apparent discontent very soon passes oiT, 

 and tlie liird becomes most confiding and steady. 

 In an aviary the Goldnncli somelimes is a bit 

 of a tyrant, and although it seldom fights, will 

 drive the other birds from the food until it has 

 had its til-bit. Goldfiiiclies will breed in an 

 aviary and even in a breeding cage, and we have 

 known several lots so reared. The illustration 

 on page 173 shows an adult bird and one in its 

 nest feathers. 



The Goldfmch possesses a sharp but exceed- 

 ingly sweet song, comliining a clear metallic ring 

 with modulated power, much softer and sweeter 

 than the Canary's, and Ihiked together by a 

 continual twittering, making the song last for 

 a long time without intermission. In common 

 witli all Fincl^es, it shows a very varied taste 

 in regard to seeds, but the best food is composed 

 of a selection of the following seeds : Canary and 

 teazle in equal parts, with a little niger and flax 

 (also known as linseed), oat-grits, rape, hem]) 

 and maw-seed. Some birds will not eat all 

 these seeds ; therefore it is advisable to watch 

 the general choice, and give those only, as other- 

 wise it will scatter and waste the rest in order to 

 obtain the favourites. Should the bird show a 

 decided preference for hemp, it is not advisable 

 to let it have too much, as this seed is very 

 fattening. In order to break it of scattering 

 when in search of the hemp, give a few — say 

 twelve — seeds upon the top of the rest, and the 

 bird will soon understand the arrangement, and 

 give up its endeavours. A supply of wild seed 

 should also be given, of which dandelion, thistle, 

 and knapweed will form a large portion. Give 

 these dry during the winter, and fresh gathered 

 in their succulent form during the sjjring and 

 summer. When wild the Goldfinch is of very 

 great service to the gardener and farmer, as in 

 spring it feeds almost entirely upon the seeds 

 of groundsel and dandelion. In the summer, 

 when the thistles have run to seed, Goldie may 

 be seen hanging to the thistle-heads, and with 

 its long, sharp-pointed bill extracting the seeds. 

 The red feathers on its head are particularly 

 short and strong to form a protection against 

 the prickly thistles. In the autumn and winter 

 the seeds of the thistle and button-weed form 

 its staple food. It also greatly enjoys a piece 

 of watercress or lettuce. One very important 

 item in its treatment consists in providing plenty 

 of sharp, gritty sand over the bottom of the 

 cage. This assists digestion, and is also a 

 source of great pleasure to the bird. A free use 

 of the bath will complete the arrangements for 

 good management. As in all British birds, 

 partial albinism is fairly frequent in this species, 

 the most common form being what is known as 

 the Cheveril Goldfmch, which has the distinction 



The SisKin. 



of a white streak dividing the red on the chin 

 and throat. In some specimens this band is 

 very narrow, but in others the white extends 

 to the shafts on either side of the throat. 



The points of an exhibition Goldfmch are a 

 large, ricli, brilliant-coloured, clean-cut face, free 

 from any intermixture of black in the red ; good 

 body colour with well-defined markings ; large 

 moons — that is, the white tippings to the wings ; 

 the yellow wing bars brilliant and bold ; good 

 size and shape. Perfect plumage and steadi- 

 ness are also essential. The cages recommended 

 for the Greenfinch answer, but the inside colour 

 of the show cage should be dark green, and 

 black outside. 



The Siskin, Chnjsomitris spiniis (Dresser), 

 although a resident, breeding in some of the 

 pine woods of Scotland, parts 

 of Ireland, and also, it is said, 

 in many English counties, is also a not 

 very abundant winter migrant to England. 

 II is a very beautiful, prettily marked little 

 bird, as a glance at our coloured plate will 

 show. Its black crown, usually called by 

 fanciers the " caj)," and black bib contrast with 

 pleasing effect against the yellowish-green body 

 striped with black. The checks and upper por- 

 tion of the breast are primrose-yellow ; the 

 lower portion of the breast light grey, shading 

 to white on the abdomen. The Siskin's beauty 

 is especially displayed when seen fiitting 

 amongst the branches of the alder trees, feeding 

 upon the seeds and keeping up a continual 

 twitter the while. The female difi'ers from the 

 male in having no black cap, paler body colour, 

 and white under-parts with just a tint of 

 yellow. The Siskin has not much song, and 

 that little is occasionally interspersed with harsh, 

 jarring notes, yet the bird is a very pretty 

 addition to an aviary, breeds in captivity, and is 

 largely kept for exhibition purposes. The Siskin 

 should be fed upon canary and niger seed in equal 

 parts with a little linseed and teazle. Wild seeds 

 as advised for the Goldfinch should be added, 

 and a supply of birch and alder seeds whenever 

 procurable. Maw-seed and oat-grits may also 

 be given in small quantities occasionally as tit- 

 bits. Some fanciers give hemp-seed, but this 

 is far too fattening, and as the Siskin is inclined 

 to be somewhat of a glutton, a few hemp-seeds 

 should only be given very occasionally. Siskins 

 are fond of bathing, and should always have 

 free access to a bath. The living and show 

 cages recommended for the Goldfinch answer 

 well for this bird, but they can be one size 

 smaller, and the colour of the show cage be 

 dark blue inside and black outside. A Siskin 

 for exhibition must be of nice size and shape ; 

 the blacker the cap the better ; the bib large 

 and shapely, rich body colour ; wing bars and 



