THE SISKIN 



Although the nest of this species, 

 which used to be called the Aberdevine 

 amongst bird-catchers, has been found 

 occasionally in various parts of England, 

 it is chiefly known as a winter visitor, 

 and may be seen, along with flocks of 

 Redpolls, feeding upon the seeds of the 

 alder, birch, and larch, from September 

 until April. It breeds regularly, how- 

 ever, in the great pine forests of Scot- 

 land and in certain parts of Ireland. ' 



The nest is generally placed on the 

 branch of a fir at a considerable height 

 from the ground, although specimens 

 have been found even in furze and juniper 

 bushes. It is composed of slender twigs, 

 dried grass, moss, wool, and horsehair, 

 lined with vegetable down, rabbit's fur, 

 and a few soft feathers. 



From four to six eggs are laid, of a 

 greyish-white ground colour, tinted with 

 green or pale bluish-green, spotted and 

 speckled with pale and dark reddish- 

 brown, sometimes streaked with the 

 latter colour. 



The song of the Siskin has been likened 

 to the running-down of a piece of clock- 

 work, and it used to be a great favourite 

 amongst stocking weavers in Germany as 

 a cage pet, on account of the fact that 



