SISKIN. 149 



In Norfolk, and in some other parts of England, the 

 Goldfinch is usually called " the Draw-water," from the 

 fact that, when tamed, it is often taught to draw up its 

 drinking-water in a little bucket. As a reward, accord- 

 ing to Mr. Watters, it is permitted to contemplate itself 

 in a looking-glass attached to the back of the cage. 



The Goldfinch's nest is a really beautiful structure, 

 consisting of grasses, moss, and lichens, interwoven with 

 wool and hair, and is often found in the fork of an 

 apple-tree, and sometimes in a bush or evergreen. The 

 eggs, four or five in number, are a bluish-white grey, 

 with purple and brown spots. 



SISKIN. 



Carduelis spinus ; Grosbec tarin ; Zeisigfink. 

 Aberdevine. 



Bill, in summer, orange-brown ; legs and toes, pale 

 brown ; crown, black ; behind the eye, a yellow streak ; 

 chin and throat, black ; breast, yellowish ; wings, dusky, 

 with yellow transverse bar ; tail, dusky ; base, greenish- 

 yellow. Length, four and a half inches. 



This pretty and interesting little bird is by no means 

 common in Ireland. It " occurs principally as a winter 

 visitor ; but the nest has been found in Antrim, Wicklow, 

 and Waterford." I never met with the bird except 

 in winter until 1885, when my accomplished friend, 

 Miss Massy, identified it with a bird whose song was 

 unknown to me, but which I heard singing on the 

 1 8th June, not far from Powerscourt Waterfall. 



