118 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
own garden, overshadowing an arbour from which a 
honeysuckle clambered upwards and entwined them 
together, has often been selected by a pair of goldfinches, 
their nest being always placed on the bough of a plum 
tree. 
The nest of this species is an elegant structure, very 
similar to that of the chaffinch, though if possible more 
elaborate in its compact felting of wool and hair, but I 
have rarely found any twigs used in its construction ; 
the exterior varies with the situation and the materials 
to be obtained, sometimes being ornamented with moss, 
at others with lichens, the last being most frequent. 
The country people call the goldfinch the “ proud tailor,” 
and truly, in the construction of its nest, it may well be 
proud of its exquisite workmanship. 
The natural song of the goldfinch, though sweet, does 
not possess much variety, but it is a good imitator, bears 
confinement cheerily, and is therefore much prized as a 
cage bird. Jf the young ones are taken before they can 
fly; the parents will feed them readily if put in a cage to 
which they can have access. The adult birds are very 
easily caught in a trap-cage, and soon become reconciled 
to their prison. 
The Siskin (F. spinus) is a rare bird with us, at least 
as regards its visits; as a species it is abundant, and 
when it does make its appearance it is always in large 
flocks, but no one locality appears to have the preference, 
nor do its migrations appear to be guided by any fixed 
laws, but are fitful and uncertain. 
In our district I have only met with it three times— 
twice in the winter of 1848, and again in February, 
1854. It was in the first week in January in the former 
year that I saw a large flock of sixty or seventy, who 
