172 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



species (See Yarrell's " British Birds," Ed. 4, Vol. ii., p. 124). 

 The provincial names by which the Goldfinch is known 

 are : Goldie and Gold Spink, given by Swainson as in general 

 use, the latter term being dialectically modified in Craven to 

 Gowd-Spink. Tunstall, in 1783, mentioned it as known as 

 Gold Linnet in the North of England, pronounced Gowd Linnet 

 in the North Riding, and Gold Lenny in Cleveland. Redcap is 

 another term in general use, and King Harry or King Harry 

 Redcap, in the North and East Ridings ; Thistle Finch is a 

 North Riding name, and Captain a West Riding one ; while 

 Grey Kate or Grey Pate are, in the North and East Ridings, 

 applied to the young. 



SISKIN. 

 Carduelis spinus (Z.). 



Winter visitant, of uncertain appearance and in varying numbers. 



The first notice of the Siskin appertaining to Yorkshire 

 appears to be in the Allan MS., 1791, of the Tunstall Museum 

 (p. 205 of Fox's " Synopsis)," where it is stated that this species 

 "Visits us at uncertain times, but chiefly in winter, and 

 never known to breed here." 



Thomas Allis, in 1844, referred to it thus : 



Carduelis spinus. Siskin Rather common near Sheffield some 

 winters. J. Heppenstall observes " Last year I received several 

 which were shot feeding on the seeds of the alder ; it visits our gardens 

 most autumns along with Fringilla montefringilla, the attraction seems 

 to be the seeds of the sycamore ; I was informed in Hertfordshire 

 that they had large flocks last winter feeding on the seeds of arbor- vitae." 

 It is common in flocks in winter near Bridlington ; it is an irregular 

 visitant near Halifax, but was very abundant in the winter of 1835-6 ; 

 it is not infrequently obtained near Doncaster, in April 1837 a large 

 flock was seen in Sandall Beat ; it is met with rarely near York and 

 Barnsley ; it is common near Hebden Bridge in some seasons. 



Although reported to have bred in Yorkshire, the alleged 

 instances of the discovery of its nest are so few that the Siskin 

 cannot accurately be described as a resident species, and 

 must rank as a winter visitant, irregular in numbers and 



