BIRDS. 



153 



for human habitations, we have still others which hang 

 about the borders of woods. The Brambling is fond 

 of beech mast, and hence may be seen in autumn and 

 winter near beech-trees, but, being only a winter 

 visitor, he will be sought in vain during the summer 

 months. The Greenfinch, Linnet, Twite, and Gold- 

 finch more or less congregate in companies, and 

 frequent the waste places, where thistles, dandelions, 

 groundsel, and other herbaceous plants furnish their 



THE SISKIN. 



favourite food. The Siskin and the Redpole are also 

 sociable birds, but they have a tendency to hang 

 about the margins of woods, and some individuals will 

 be found penetrating into the interior. The Bullfinch, 

 on the other hand, seems most at home in the woods, 

 whence he strays now and then in search of seeds, 



