134 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



trees form the favourite food of the Siskin, and it is 

 here you may expect to find him, if he happens to 

 be in your neighbourhood. If the season be a 

 favourable one, and there be abundance of seeds, 

 the greater your chance of success. 



The Siskin comes to us as a winter visitor from 

 the north, but the date of his arrival is very uncer- 

 tain, apparently depending as much upon a sudden 

 change of temperature, as upon an abundance or 

 scarcity of his favourite food. The elm and maple 

 supply him in turn with a change of diet, and in the 

 pine and larch plantations he is almost sure to be 

 found at the proper season, although from the ever- 

 green nature of the two last-named trees, and the 

 denser growth of their foliage, he is not so readily 

 seen there. 



Our own acquaintance with the Siskin was made 

 where the alder and elm best flourish and the larch 

 and pine are scarce. It is therefore upon an alder- 

 tree that we introduce the bird to our readers. 



In size no larger than a Linnet, but with shorter 

 wings and tail, the male bird may be at once dis- 

 tinguished by his black cap and chin, his greenish- 

 yellow breast and rump, spotted flanks, and black 





