118 YELLOW-BREASTED BIRDS. 



The Siskin nests regularly in the pine woods of 

 Scotland and Ireland, and although thinly diffused as 

 a breeding bird in other parts of the British Isles, 

 it is chiefly known as a winter visitor. Banding 

 together, the birds then come southwards, and often 

 associating with Redpolls, Goldcrests, and birds of the 

 Tit tribe, like them canvass the trees commonly 

 alders and birches for their seeds, in doing which 

 they exhibit to the full their qualifications for 

 admittance into that acrobatic company. The 

 Siskin's song is a minute variant of the twitter 

 often used by a Canary, and common in one form 

 or another to Greenfinches, Linnets, and the like. 

 Its call is a loud, clear note, high-pitched and two- 

 syllabled. 



GREENFINCH 6 inches ; the only other greenish -yellow 

 perching bird, but more than twice as large as u, 

 Siskin. 



TITMICE. Although the Blue Tit, the Coal-Tit, and the 

 Marsh-Tit are in size similar to the Siskin, and all 

 indulge in similarly eccentric posturings whilst feeding 

 in the trees, their markings are altogether different. 



GOLDCREST 3 inches ; upper parts olive, yellower on 

 lower back ; wings dusky, with black patch and white 

 wing-bars ; crown slashed with bright yellow between 

 black bars ; under parts gray, with greenish or yellowish 

 cast ; also an eccentric posturer in the trees. 



YELLOWHAMMER. Plate 5 3. Length, 6* inches. 

 Head yellow, with dusky streaks ; upper parts chest- 

 nut, with dark centres to the feathers, but clear 

 chestnut towards the tail ; yellow underneath, with 

 dark streaks ; wings dusky-brown, edged narrowly 



