6 4 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



green food, and (although I do not approve of such food) it is as fond as the Goldfinch 

 and the whole of the Tits of picking a bone, clinging to it in all positions, and 

 behaving in every respect exactly like a Tit. The Siskin is one of the most 

 charming of all aviary birds, on account of its wonderfully confiding nature. I 

 turned a pair which I purchased in November, 1889, about three weeks after their 

 capture, into a large aviary ; and, in three days, they had so thoroughly learned 

 to trust me, that they flew into my hand and disputed over poppy-seed and egg ; 

 one of these birds lived for three years, and would even permit me to raise my 

 hand until my nose touched her beak, when she would fly off to a twig, and return 

 directly I held my hand out to her again ; there were two hens and a cock in 

 this trio, and the male outlived both of his wives ; finally he appeared to have 

 acquired a growth in his throat, which obstructed his breathing ; therefore as my 

 experience of doctoring birds is, that in nineteen out of twenty cases it kills them 

 within ten minutes, I thought I would give my Siskin the opportunity of doctoring 

 himself; so I turned him loose in my garden, where he remained for about an 

 hour, and then flew straight away. I have had many other Siskins at various 

 times, sometimes three or four pairs together ; they have always become very tame 

 in a surprisingly short period, and have been altogether delightful pets ; but 

 most of them have died within a few months. Siskins do not seem to have any- 

 thing like the constitution of most Goldfinches. One tame little hen bird, however, 

 lived to a good age ; and, when she had lost three husbands in succession, I caged 

 her and made a regular pet of her. After six months I wearied of the extra labour 

 (every separate cage adding to the time occupied in providing for my large family) ; 

 I therefore turned Cissie, as I called her, into one of my bird-room aviaries ; biit 

 she had forgotten all aboiit liberty, flew wildly against the wires in the greatest 

 terror, and presently settled down in a corner with her face to the wall ; having 

 evidently decided that life was no longer worth having : I therefore picked her 

 up and restored her to her cage, where she sat looking stupid for half an hour 

 before she recovered. I subsequently gave this bird to a young lady, who christened 

 her Priscilla, and made much of her to the day of her death about a year later. 



