574 FRINGILLID^J. 



as the winter advanced, very large flocks arrived, and fed 

 chiefly upon the ragweed, and under some large beech trees, 

 turning over the fallen mast, and eating part of the kernels, 

 as well as any seeds they could find among them. In 1828 

 they again appeared; but in 1829 not one was seen. In 

 the winter of 1830 they were equally wanting." 



Mr. Drew, of Paisley, says, " Early in June, 1 833, at 

 which time I resided at Inverary, I went out one morning 

 to fish, and, according to my usual practice, I carried a 

 light gun with me. I was rather surprised, at that season, 

 to see a pair of Siskins among some furze bushes, on the 

 shore of Lochfine, and the birds being close together, I 

 killed both. On dissecting the female, an egg was found 

 ready for exclusion, and I never had any doubt but that 

 the birds were breeding in the neighbourhood, though I 

 did not look for, or see, the nest. It is very likely that it 

 was in some of the spruces, which were the predominant 

 trees in the place. I subsequently secured a pair of Siskins 

 in the same locality." 



A correspondent, residing in the Vale of Alford, Aber- 

 deenshire, thus notices in Mr. London's Magazine of Na- 

 tural History, vol. iv., the appearance of the Siskin in the 

 breeding season : " A gentleman in the neighbourhood 

 observed some about the middle of May ; the first that I 

 noticed was on the 27th : it was picking seeds of grass on 

 the edge of the road, and was not at all shy ; I saw others 

 afterwards, at different times and places, till the end of 

 June." 



William Gardiner, Esq., jun., of Dundee, says of the 

 Siskin, " Occasionally a pair or two linger with us during 

 the breeding-season, and produce their young. Near the 

 end of May, 1834, a nest full of young ones was found in 

 Camperdown Woods ; the nest was situated close to the 

 trunk, at the insertion of a branch of a spruce fir, about 



