THE SISKIN. 153 



with its point tipped with bird-lime, to catch Siskins by 

 touching them with it, when their feathers adhere to the 

 lime with which it is smeared. 



This species does not generally visit the same parts of the 

 county every year, but frequently appears in considerable 

 numbers in a locality where it is not seen again for several 

 successive seasons. As an instance of this peculiarity, it 

 may be mentioned that, in the winters of 1870-71 and 

 1874-75, several flocks frequented the birch-trees in the 

 policy-grounds of Paxton House, where none have been 

 observed for the last ten years. It seems to occur in the 

 neighbourhood of Duns Castle frequently, and as it is re- 

 ported to have been seen in the woods there during summer, 

 it is possible that it may have bred in that locality. There 

 is, however, no record of the nest having been found in 

 Berwickshire. 



The following places in the county, in addition to those 

 above mentioned, are recorded as haunts of the Siskin : — 

 Alders at Clockmill, near Duns ; ^ wood at the side of the 

 Luggy in Lauderdale ; ^ sides of Tower Burn, near Pease 

 Mill ; ^ banks of the Blackadder; ^ Gordon Moss and Pans; ^ 

 and Edington Mill.^ I have likewise notes of its appear- 

 ance near Mertoun ; at the Langton Burn, near Langton 

 House ; and on the banks of the Leader, near Earlston. 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 121. "- Ibid. vol. vii. p. 303. 



3 Ibid. vol. vii. p. 513. 4 jud. vol. vii. p. 521. 



5 Ibid. vol. ix. pp. 230, 561. 6 Ibid. vol. x. p. 573. 







