SISKIN, 279 



tioned by Mr Gardiner, in the Camperdown 

 Woods, near Dundee,* the nest was not more 

 than six feet from the ground ; Mr Meyer again 

 states, that the nest has been twice found near 

 Combe Wood, in furze, within three feet of the 

 ground.f From all our present knowledge ot 

 the nidification of the Siskin, it would appear 

 that the places selected were almost as local and 

 uncertain as the times of its appearance in winter, 

 and it is probable that the greater portion of the 

 very large flocks which we sometimes see, per- 

 form a more extended migration northward, and 

 that those partially met with breeding are the 

 stragglers on the southern boundary of their 

 range. Their particular habits and their food 

 at this period are still desiderata to the British 

 ornithologist. In winter, where we have observed 

 them, their manners have been very similar to 

 those of the Goldfinch, frequenting pastures or 

 districts where tall syngenesious plants abounded, 

 feeding also on the catkins of several trees, and 

 apparently, Mr Selby remarks, attracted by the 

 abundance of the birch and alder. We have 

 also seen them picking out the kernels from 

 beech mast, and frequenting a spot on account 

 of the supply afforded. On the Continent it is 

 known, but somewhat partially in the middle 

 countries ; we are not sure that very authentic 

 accounts exist of its frequency or nidification in 

 the north, as has been generally supposed, and, 



* London's Magazine. 



t Yarrell, British Birds, i. p. 497. 



