94 THE BIRDS OF OXFOEDSHIRE. 



( i 

 THE SISKIN. i ' 



Carduelis sphms. 



The Siskin is a winter visitor, appearing in small numbers 



in most years. During their stay with us they usually 



frequent the banks of streams, feeding in company with 



Lesser Redpoles on the seeds of the alder : when thus engaged 



they admit of a very close approach. In the winter of 1847, 



Siskins were unusually abundant in the neighbourhood of 



Oxford, where several instances of these birds remaining to 



breed have been reported (^Zoologist, p. 2429). This statement 



respecting their nidification was made upon the authority 



of Mr. Forrest, an Oxford bird-stuff er (Rev. A. Matthews 



in lit.). It is very possible that some pairs may remain in 



Oxfordshire to breed, and in 1879 I observed a small party of 



eight Siskins in some larches at Bodicote as late as the 20th 



April. 



THE LESSER REDPOLE. \ 'J 



Liiiota riifesceiis. 

 The Lesser Redpole is for the most part a winter visitor, 

 but in several instances it has been observed during the 

 summer months, and the nest and eggs have been taken 

 on two occasions at least. The Messrs. Matthews on one 

 occasion saw a family of full-fledged young with the parent 

 birds, and remark that Redpoles were common enough in 

 wintev [Zoologist, p. 2429). In May, 1882, a nest containing 

 two eggs was taken at Marston, the old birds flying close up 

 to the nest on the eggs being handled [Zoologist, 1883, p. 30), 

 and in the same year Mr, Stephen Salter, who is well acquainted 

 with this bird, wrote word to the Rev. H. A. Macpherson 

 that he had seen on several occasions in the Parks at Oxford 

 ' several large parties ' of Lesser Redpoles in the middle of 

 July (H. A. Macpherson in lit.). From the same locality 

 my friend Mr. J. R. Earle had a nest containing five eggs in 

 June, 1883 {i7i lit.), and Mr. W, W. Fowler saw a pair there 



