SISKIN 17 



though instances have also occurred in the extreme south, 

 that is to say, in the neighbourhood of London. 



Booth, a most careful observer, describes the nests as 

 constructed in the fir trees in Scotland rather differently 

 from other authors. He says : " The nest has been stated 

 to resemble that of the Goldfinch; with the exception 

 perhaps of size, I have noticed little similarity. The outer 

 portion is fashioned with green moss held in position by 

 fibres of roots and strands of grass, finer materials of the 

 same description being used for the lining, in which I have 

 also seen a few catkins of either the birch or alder, together 

 with a quantity of the seeds. To the best of my recollec- 

 tion neither wool, hair, or thistle-down, nor the flowers of 

 the cotton-grass, were employed in any nest I examined. " 



VOL. n. 



