THE SISKIN 



CHRTSOMITRIS SPINUS 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " Barley Bird " 

 (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : Resident. Breeds very 

 locally in England and Ireland ; more widely dispersed 

 over the conifer area in Scotland. It becomes more 

 commonly distributed in winter. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : The Siskin, so far as I know, does not breed in any 

 part of the Metropolitan area, to which it is an irregular 

 and local autumn and winter visitor only. As a straggler 

 it may probably visit some of the more central localities, 

 although I have no reliable records of the fact. In the 

 rural suburbs, however, it is of more or less frequent 

 occurrence, especially by the margins of streams and rivers 

 where alder-trees are common. Amongst the localities 

 where it may probably be met with I can mention Ealing, 

 Hanwell, Southall, Twyford, Wembley, Harrow, Hendon, 

 Hampstead, Elstree, Epping, and Wanstead. On the 

 Surrey side of the Thames the districts of the Grays, 

 Croydon, Sydenham, Dulwich, Streatham, Wimbledon, 

 and Richmond may be given. The Siskin is much sought 

 after by the bird-catcher, as it is a highly prized cage- 

 bird, hardy and docile in captivity. To this fact must be 

 attributed its scarcity in many places. Fortunately it 

 breeds in districts remote from towns. 



During its possible sojourn within London limits the 

 habits of the Siskin very closely resemble those of the Tits. 

 During autumn and winter it leads a roving kind of exis- 

 tence, chiefly confining itself to trees, especially alders 

 and birches, the minute seeds of Jwhich it regards as a 

 delicacy. In obtaining these seeds the Siskin clings to 

 the slender drooping branches, swinging to and fro and 



