28 THE ANIMAL LIFE OF SIBERIA 



itifringiUa), which breeds in immense numbers in the stunted birch, fir, and 

 pine forests of the mainland of Siberia, as well as on the larger islands, like Japan, 

 although, on account of the absence of forests, it is unknown in Iceland. From 

 the first half of September until October it migrates to Spain, southern France, 

 and Italy, and in hard winters even to Greece, Asia Minor, and Algeria. The 

 brambling flies slowly, sometimes in enormous flocks, and is mostly found in 

 forests rich in beechmast. In March it returns just as leisurely to its northern 

 home. A true forest-bird, it prefers conifers to deciduous trees, and often travels 

 distances of from six to eight hours in order to roost in its favourite pines. In its 

 winter-haunts it associates with chaffinches, yellow buntings, sparrows, linnets, 

 and other birds, and is occasionally seen in inhabited districts. In its breeding- 

 area it consumes insects during summer, with which it also feeds its young. The 

 nest is higher from the ground than that of the chaffinch, and generally is partly 

 cons! meted of birch-bark The low, chirping, screeching song of the brambling is 

 not comparable to that of the chaffinch, which the bird resembles in so many ways. 

 From that species it maybe distinguished by its blackish head, blackish back, 

 white rump, and the white spot on the wing. 



The group of cherry-finches is represented in Siberia west of Lake Baikal 

 by the European hawfinch, but elsewhere in Asia by other species. So far north 

 as corn is grown in Siberia the house-sparrow may be found, while the tree- 

 sparrow is met with all through Siberia from west to east. 



starling The starling has a similar distribution to the hawfinch, ranging 



and oriole. ag f ar nor t,h as latitude 70°. The golden oriole, on the other hand, is 

 a more southern bird, although it inhabits Siberia as far east as Dzungaria. 



Almost all the crow-like birds of central Europe are found in 

 Crow Tribe. . , r 



Siberia, but the nutcracker is represented by the slender-beaked race 



i A ucifraga caryocatactes macrorhyncha), which ranges as far as Kamchatka to 



the east, and generally lives in pine-groves, the seeds of which form its principal 



food. The jays are represented in the north of Europe and Asia by the Siberian 



jay ( Prrisoreus infaustus), which is found in great numbers, especially near 



\ akutsk, in the Stanovoi Mountains, and also on the southern shore of the Sea 



>! Okhotsk, while in Scandinavia it is met with south as far as Stockholm and 



' hristiania. Its breeding-area extends as far north as firs of any size can grow; 



In it in its winter-haunts, in milder climates, it lives among birches and other trees. 



\ >i v early in spring it returns to its nest, which is placed in the thickest branches 



of some pine or fir close to the stem, and is built of lichens and dry twigs, and 



,il "" 1 with hair and a few feathers from the breast of the builder and others 



borrowed from the ptarmigan. The nest is by no means easy to find since the 



birds are very quiet when in its neighbourhood, and perch, with bristling feathers, 



M 11 "'' close to the trunk of the tree in their endeavours to remain hidden so long as 



ssible. When, however, closely approached, they suddenly fly off through the 



tops of the trees with loud cries. The jerky, bustling flight is similar to that 



of the common jay, which the Siberian bird resembles in its habit of establishing 



"I nuts and other food, and also in feeding on insects and the eggs and 



ing of the smaller birds. At times these birds are so greedy for animal food 



the Laplanders are obliged to chase them away with sticks from the places 



