PASSEKES. ( 152 ) FRINGILLID^. 



THE SISKIN. 



ABERDEVINE. 



Garduelis spinus. 



Beautiful birds I ye come thickly around, 

 When the bud's on the branch and the snoiv ' s on the groioid. 



Cook. 



This pretty little bird generally makes its appearance in 

 the county about the month of October, and leaves us for 

 the north again ^ in March and April. 



It chiefly frequents localities where alder and birch trees 

 abound, such as the margins of our streams, ponds, and 

 bogs ; and small flocks may be sometimes seen, accompanied 

 by EedpoUs, feeding on the seeds of these trees, which form 

 their favourite food. While thus occupied, it assumes 

 a variety of interesting attitudes like the Titmouse ; and 

 when a flock is feeding, the little twittering birds are fre- 

 quently so eagerly engaged in searching for food as to allow 

 a person to walk close up to the tree or bush upon which 

 they are feasting, without showing any fear of his approach. 

 Of this fearlessness the bird-fanciers in some districts take 

 advantage, and use a long, slender wand, like a fishing-rod, 



1 The Siskin has been observed on migration in Autumn 1881. — Isle of May, 

 4th and 5th Oct. Spring 1882.— Isle of May, with other Finches, from 3rd 

 March to 22nd May. Autumn 1882.— Isle of May, 7th Aug. to 16th Oct. 

 ^M^Mwm 1885. —Isle of May, 30th Oct. [I see no record of the Siskin at the 

 Fames.] — Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-85. 



