572 FRINGILLID^. 



many, pairs remain and breed annually in or about the fir- 

 woods and plantations of the northern counties of England 

 and Scotland, some recorded instances of which will be re- 

 ferred to. Although greatly reduced in numbers before 

 these flocks arrive in the southern counties, the Siskin is 

 not uncommon from September to April, and is most fre- 

 quently seen in small flocks, sometimes by themselves, but 

 more frequently in company with Linnets and Redpoles, 

 twittering almost incessantly as they fly, apparently for the 

 purpose of keeping them together, while they search the 

 alder, birch, and larch, for seeds as food ; their voice also 

 very much resembling that of the Lesser Redpole. 



Although this bird has been known to breed in three or 

 four different localities in the northern parts of this island, 

 and has been seen during the breeding-season in others, it 

 is seldom found south in the summer, or after the month 

 of April, about which time it departs for the North ; and 

 I have only heard of two instances of its remaining to breed 

 near London. Mr. Meyer informs me that the Siskin has 

 built twice in furze, about three feet from the ground, 

 near Combe Wood; the eggs were taken in both instances : 

 they were hatched by Canaries, and some of the young 

 were reared, so that no doubt remained of the species. 

 With care, and some attention to their particular wants, 

 the Siskin has bred in confinement with several persons ; 

 and these birds are in some request with London bird- 

 dealers, who pair the Siskin with a Canary, and by that 

 means obtain a bird whose song, unlike that of most Ca- 

 naries, is not too loud for a room. 



In Surrey, Sussex, Dorsetshire, and Devonshire, this bird 

 is seen more or less frequently from Michaelmas to April ; 

 in Cornwall it is more rare : but Mr. Couch, in his Cornish 

 Fauna, mentions having had a young specimen of the year 

 brought alive to him on the 31st of October, 1835. Mr. 



