1890-91.] Birds of the Great Glen. 449 



species, save perhaps the bullfinch, seems to be such a favour- 

 ite cage-bird with the natives, perhaps because in spring they 

 are easily captured by means of a call-bird and limed twigs. 

 This process is rather interesting to watch. Should the call- 

 bird be a female, the male who is attracted by her cry gyrates 

 round and round overhead with wings outspread and qiiivering, 

 pouring out his song with his utmost power, gradually narrow- 

 ing the circle, only to alight occasionally upon a tree or wall 

 where he continues to sing. Then off he sets again, until 

 finally he settles upon the cage or twigs, in the latter case to 

 lose his liberty. Sometimes he runs round the cage at con- 

 siderable speed, whistling with energy and making vain en- 

 deavours to find an entrance through the bars. So readily do 

 siskins take to confinement, that with careful and kindly treat- 

 ment I have managed to familiarise a bird with its altered 

 circumstances to such an extent, that it ate off the finger a 

 few hours after capture. The otherwise sweet warbling is 

 marred to a certain extent by an interjected harsh screech, 

 which readily distinguishes it from any other small bird. 

 Bands of siskins and redpoles often accompany the crossbills 

 in their wanderings among the coniferaj, no doubt profiting by 

 the latter's superior facilities for opening the cones to extract 

 the seed from those that are left unfinished by the larger and 

 stronger species. Crossbills abound in some years, but are 

 scarce in others, the years 1880-81 being exceptionally 

 favourable for observing their habits. As in the case of the 

 titmice, nothing more need be said anent this species, the 

 subject having been already discussed in a previous paper 

 now included in our ' Transactions ' ; and while referring to 

 this, it may be as well to state that I purpose as far as 

 possible avoiding a description of any particular species that 

 has already been brought under your notice in former years, 

 which decision will materially assist in limiting the length of 

 the present paper. The beautifully plumaged bullfinch used 

 to be, and still is, fairly frequent, but a few severe winters 

 thinned their numbers grievously. Another cause for dimin- 

 ution, outside the bird-catcher, is the hostility displayed by 

 gardeners, who in some respects are as inimical to bird-life as 

 the game-preserver. The bullfinches certainly have a parti- 

 ality for fruit-buds, and although some authorities attempt to 



