THE SISKIN 
CHRYSOMITRIS SPINUS 
Locan names in surrounding counties : “ Barley Bird ” 
(Essex). 
Status 1N British AvirAUNA: Resident. Breeds very 
locally in England and Ireland; more widely dispersed 
over the conifer area in Scotland. It becomes more 
commonly distributed in winter. 
RaprtaL DistriBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: The Siskin, so far as I know, does not breed in any 
part of the Metropolitan area, to which it is an irregular 
and local autumn and winter visitor only. As a straggler 
it may probably visit some of the more central localities, 
although I have no reliable records of the fact. In the 
rural suburbs, however, it is of more or less frequent 
occurrence, especially by the margins of streams and rivers 
where alder-trees are common. Amongst the localities 
where it may probably be met with I can mention Ealing, 
Hanwell, Southall, Twyford, Wembley, Harrow, Hendon, 
Hampstead, Elstree, Epping, and Wanstead. On the 
Surrey side of the Thames the districts of the Crays, 
Croydon, Sydenham, Dulwich, Streatham, Wimbledon, 
and Richmond may be given. ‘The Siskin is much sought 
after by the bird-catcher, as it is a highly prized cage- 
bird, hardy and docile in captivity. ‘To this fact must be 
attributed its scarcity in many places. Fortunately it 
breeds in districts remote from towns. 
During its possible sojourn within London limits the 
habits of the Siskin very closely resemble those of the Tits. 
During autumn and winter it leads a roving kind of exis- 
tence, chiefly confining itself to trees, especially alders 
and birches, the minute seeds of which it regards as a 
delicacy. In obtaining these seeds the Siskin clings to 
the slender drooping branches, swinging to and fro and 
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