SISKIN. 497 



pairs remain and breed annually in or about the fir-woods 

 and plantations of the northern counties of England and 

 Scotland, some recorded instances of which will be referred 

 to. Although greatly reduced in numbers before these flocks 

 arrive in the southern counties, the Siskin is not uncom- 

 mon from September to April, and is most frequently seen 

 in small flocks, sometimes by themselves, but more fre- 

 quently in company with Linnets and Redpoles, twittering 

 almost incessantly as they fly, apparently for the purpose of 

 keeping them together, while they search the alder, birch, 

 and larch for seeds as food; their voice also very much resem- 

 bling that of the Lesser Redpole. 



Although this bird has been known to breed in three or 

 four difl?erent localities in the northern parts of this island ; 

 and has been seen during the breeding-season in others ; it 

 is seldom found south in the summer, or after the month 

 of April, about which time it departs for the North ; and I 

 have only heard of two instances of its remaining to breed 

 near London. Mr. Meyer informs me that the Siskin has 

 built twice in furze, about three feet from the ground, near 

 Coombe Wood ; the eggs were taken in both instances ; 

 they were hatched by Canaries, and some of the young were 

 reared, so that no doubt remained of the species. With 

 care, and some attention to their particular wants, the Siskin 

 has bred in confinement with several persons ; and these birds 

 are in some request with London bird-catchers, who pair the 

 Siskin with a Canary, and by that means obtain a bird whose 

 song, unlike that of most Canaries, is not too loud for a 

 room. 



Li Surrey, Sussex, Dorsetshire, and Devonshire, this bird 

 is seen more or less frequently from Michaelmas to April, 

 in Cornwall it is more rare ; but Mr, Couch, in his Cornish 

 Fauna, mentions having had a young specimen of the year 

 brought alive to him on the 31st of October, 1835. Mr. 



VOL. I. 2 k 



