78 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
thistles which protruded through the snow. Mr. F. 
Nicholson tells us that on several occasions he has 
trapped passing migrants which were attracted by the 
call-notes of captive birds in his aviary at Altrincham, 
and suggests that the Goldfinch, though seldom ob- 
served, occurs more often than is generally supposed. 
SISKIN. 
CARDUELIS SPINUS (Linneus). 
Aberdevine. 
This active little Finch is only known in Cheshire as 
a winter visitor; sometimes occurring in considerable 
numbers, though in most years it is rare or entirely 
absent. The birds are almost invariably met with in 
compact flocks in alders and birches, feeding upon the 
seeds, when their tit-like actions and pleasing twitter 
cannot fail to attract attention. 
The Siskin is not mentioned by Brockholes in his 
Wirral list, and Dr. Dobie has never observed it in the 
Chester district; but Mr. W. E. Sharp states that in 
the winter of 1872-73 it was abundant in the birches 
at Ledsham ; and a specimen, now in the Grosvenor 
Museum, Chester, was shot at Ince Hall in November 
1891. The Rev. C. Wolley-Dod has often seen flocks 
among the alders at Malpas, and Mr. R. Newstead, senior, 
has two specimens which were obtained at Tarporley.! 
On December 24th, 1887, Oldham watched a couple 
of Siskins feeding in an alder swamp near Somerford, 
and we have seen others that were obtained at Oulton, 
Compstall, and Marton. There is one in the Warring- 
ton Museum which was shot at Antrobus in November 
1 Dobie, op. cit. p. 297. 
