FOR CAGES AND A VI ARIES. 81 



not, they are the exact counterpart of their father as 

 regards plumage, but approach the mother in the matter 

 of size. They are but poor songsters and not in much 

 request. 



Some of the South African Finches are now and then 

 exhibited at bird shows and labelled as mules between the 

 Siskin and some other bird, but no one but an utter novice 

 could be gulled by such a transparent device. And yet the 

 Yellow Thickbilled Finch of the Cape got a prize at a 

 show (nameless) some years ago as a Siskin-Bullfinch mule! 



The Siskin is a hardy bird, when treated correctly, and it 

 is surprising what it will endure in the way of ill- 

 treatment without succumbing to the effects of the mistaken 

 kindness of its thoughtless guardian. Thus, although a 

 native of the far north, it is often kept in an apartment 

 with a stove temperature, and fed on oily seeds; and yet 

 it is the exception for it to die from a stroke of apoplexy 

 or from fatty degeneration of the liver. It is subject to 

 epilepsy, the venerable Bechstein declares, but that was 

 a pious opinion merely of the Father of Cage-bird Lore 

 not a necessary consequence of the bird's existence in a 

 cage, but the result of some error in the management. 

 The same authority is correct in stating that it may be 

 kept for eight to twelve years. 



Sometimes it is trained like the Redpoll, but it is better 

 not to force its nature and make it perform tricks foreign 

 to its habits. 



The great ease with which it is tamed is the chief 

 attraction of the Siskin, and the process is a simple one. 

 Let the owner offer the bird a grain of hemp through 

 the bars of the cage. At first it will be alarmed and possibly 

 flutter about a little; then, finding that no harm is intended, 

 it will rest, and noticing the seed, look at it attentively for a 

 minute or two; then it will approach cautiously and with 

 every symptom of mingled fear and daring snatch the 

 coveted morsel from between the tips of the fingers; 

 but the next time it will take it more readily, and in a 

 few days without any hesitation whatever, calling for the 

 tit-bit as soon as it sees its guardian. Then the door of 

 the cage may be opened, and it will presently fly on to 



