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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 Eed-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. 



FfilNGILLA 8PINTJS, 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 



