SISKIN. 225 



tions, as late as the 27th. of January, twittering amongst 

 the top branches of ash and fir trees, but except in 

 solitary cases have never known them to be observed 

 later. A Norwich bird-catcher assured me that on one 

 occasion he caught a hen siskin in May, which appeared 

 to have been nesting, but this in all probability had 

 escaped from confinement, as some of my own birds 

 have done occasionally. As cage pets, I know none 

 which so soon become tame and contented with their 

 new existence, but, like the redpoles, they are liable to 

 grow too fat, from over feeding, with but little exercise. 

 A very interesting account of the nesting of a pair of 

 siskins, in confinement, at Yarmouth, was inserted in 

 the "Zoologist" for 1845 (p. 1065), by Mr. John Smith, 

 of that town. The nest is described as very neat and 

 substantial, composed of moss, and a little cotton wool, 

 mixed with other materials from old nests supplied, and 

 was principally the work of the female. It was built on 

 some soft green moss, placed at one corner of the bottom 

 of the cage, and the first egg was laid on the 6th of 

 June, and six were deposited by the 12th, when the 

 whole were removed, being required for Mr. Smith's 

 collection. I have at the present time a live pair, of 

 which the male by some accident has lost the use of one 

 wing, but, in spite of this drawback, he seems perfectly 

 happy, climbs about the wires with his bill and feet, and 

 nimbly follows my hand to feed on the proffered 

 groundsel. Unable, from his injury, to fly up from the 

 bottom of the aviary, a slanting perch is always placed 

 against one side, up which he climbs to the lowest wire 

 work, and then ascends to his usual roosting place, the 

 whole proceeding being accomplished in the most 

 methodical manner, and with evident appreciation of 

 the ladder supplied to him. 



It is very amusing to study the different tempera- 

 ments, or individualities, if one may use the term, 

 2 G 



