92 FEATHERED FRIENDS. 



When it does, it builds, as a rule, in a fir tree ot 

 some kind, and makes an inartistic, not to say rude, 

 nest of grass and roots, sparsely lined with hair. The 

 eggs, four or five in number, are not unlike those of 

 the Canary, with which bird the male Siskin pairs 

 readily in confinement and produces mules which usually 

 differ but little from him in appearance, though a few 

 are mottled, but they are generally bigger than their 

 male parent. 



The Siskin hen will also sometimes build in a cage 

 and even rear a brood amid the uncongenial surround- 

 ings; insect-food, however, would seem to be essential 

 to success in such a case, and ants'eggs are recommended. 

 For my part I have not tried to get these birds to nest, 

 not considering that the game was worth the candle, 

 but others may be of a different opinion, and if so, I 

 have been advised that they should be treated like 

 Canaries that is to say, as Canaries usually are. 



As the Siskin is a very active and lively little creature, 

 it should never be kept in a small cage, in which it 

 is very apt to get too fat and to die from apoplexy, 

 or from disease of the liver. If, however, none other is 

 available, it should be encouraged to fly about the room 

 as much as possible, and if a few seeds of the fir or 

 of the arbor vitce can be obtained, it will go anywhere 

 and do anything to get them. 



Next to the seeds of the various coniferae the Siskin 

 loves those of the alder; it is also very fond of 



