118 YELLOW-BREASTED BIRDS. 



The Siskin nests regularly in the pine woods of 

 Scotland and Ireland, and although thinly diffused as 

 a breeding bird in other parts of the British Isles, 

 it is chiefly known as a winter visitor. Banding 

 together, the birds then conic .southwards, and often 

 associating with Redpolls, Goldcrests, and birds of the 

 Tit tribe, like them canvass the trees — commonly 

 alders and birches — for their seeds, in doing which 

 they exhibit to the full their qualifications for 

 admittance into that acrobatic company. The 

 Siskin's song is a minute variant of the twitter 

 often used by a Canary, and common in one form 

 or another to Greenfinches, Linnets, and the like. 

 Its call is a loud, clear note, high-pitched and two- 

 syllabled. 



GREENFINCH — 6 inclies ; the only other greenish-yellow 

 perching bird, but more than twice as large as a 

 Siskin. 



TITMICE.— Although the Blue Tit, the Coal-Tit, and the 

 Marsh-Tit are in size similar to the Siskin, and all 

 indulge in similarly eccentric posturings whilst feeding 

 in the trees, their markings are altogether different. 



GOLDCREST— 3J inches; upper parts olive, yellower on 

 lower back ; wings dusky, Avitli black patch and white 

 wing-bars ; crown slashed with bright yellow between 

 black bars ; under parts gray, with greenish or yellowish 

 cast ; also an eccentric posturer in the trees. 



YELLOWHAMMER.— Plate 53. Length, 6h inches. 

 Head yellow, with dusky streaks ; upper parts chest- 

 nut, with dark centres to the feathers, but clear 

 chestnut towards the tail ; yellow underneath, with 

 dark streaks; wings dusky-brown, edged narrowly 



