THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 39 



A few teasles sometimes grow in our low coppices, 

 where they are perchance met with. 



SISKIN. 

 Carduelis spinus (Linn.). 



Only upon two occasions have I met with the 

 Siskin. Our chalk district does not possess any 

 fresh-water streams to encourage the growth of the 

 alder, the seeds of which I believe to be the food of 

 the Siskin in winter. 



AFRICAN WHYDAH FINCH. 

 Vidua. 



A Whydah Finch was shot here. With the excep- 

 tion of one long tail feather being shot asunder it was 

 in perfect plumage ; how it got into my district is 

 difficult to say, it did not look like an escape. 



REDPOLL. 

 Linota rufescens (Vieill.). 



I have only met with a few solitary Redpolls feed- 

 ing on rough herbage beside the roadside ; as with 

 the Siskin, the district is not adapted to their require- 

 ments. 



