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bodies of the trees, and lined with fine grass and 
wool. The eggs, four or five in number, are rather 
smaller than those of the Red-backed Shrike, and 
vary much in markings, the ground colour being 
pale blue in some, in others a dirty white, sur- 
rounded near the longer end with a zone of rust- 
coloured spots, and occasionally of a pale colour, 
more disposed over the surface. It is not a wild 
bird, often building close to houses and public 
roads. 
SISKIN, OR ABERDEVINE. 
FRINGILLA sPINnus, Lin. 
The true habitat of this bird appears to be in 
the northern part of Europe, as it is plentiful in 
Sweden, Norway, and the north of Germany. It 
appears in autumn and winter in flocks, feeding on 
the seeds of thistles and other plants, as well as on 
those of the birch and alder, which it extracts from 
the cones. When engaged in this manner it clings 
to the twigs in all sorts of attitudes, and is com- 
monly so intent on its occupation as to allow a 
person to approach unnoticed. Its food, in addi- 
tion to the seeds already mentioned, comprises 
those of the pine, elm, maple, &c. It has of late 
years been found breeding in Scotland and England. 
It builds its nest in the highest branches of the 
pine. The eggs, four or five in number, are of a 
