INSESSORES. 87 



pair built tliere to his knowledge. This species, 

 according to Meyer,* has twice been found nesting 

 as near London as Wimbledon Common. In the 

 neighbourhood of Ealing, Hanwell, and West Dray- 

 ton, the Siskin is rather more common in winter. 

 During the autumn of 1865 we were visited by an 

 unusual number of Siskins, and I saw several which 

 had been taken near Hendon by a birdcatcher, in 

 company with Lesser Eedpoles. 



The food of this handsome little bird consists of 

 the seeds of grasses and thistles, together with small 

 insects, and it appears to be very fond of the seeds 

 of the alder. 



Linnet, Fringilla cannahina, vel linota. Besi- 

 dent throughout the year, but, like the Goldfinch, 

 not so common now as heretofore. Both these 

 species appear to prefer uncultivated lands and 

 wastes, and such unfrequented spots as are now, 

 alas ! becoming scarce. In autumn I observe the 

 Linnet in small flocks upon the stubble and cleared 

 bean-fields, and in much greater numbers among 

 the weeds on the banks of the Reservoir at Kings- 

 bury, where they appear to find plenty of food in 

 seeds of various kinds. At night they roost upon 

 the ground, among the thick grass and dry weeds. 

 I have frequently disturbed large flocks of them 

 very early in the morning and late at night. I have 



*: ' Illustrations of British Birds and their Eggs.' 



I 3 



