i io THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



uncommon near Cookham during the winter ; and it 

 has been seen near Reading, Surley, Maidenhead, 

 and Wantage. The Rev. B. Burgess tells me that 

 it occurs at Chesham and Slapton ; and Mr. H. H. 

 Crewe states of this species that Baldwin, a bird- 

 catcher who lives near Drayton Beauchamp, not 

 unfrequently captures the Siskin in his clap-nets, 

 during the winter months, in that neighbourhood. 



In the winter of 1857 a great number of Siskins 

 were captured in Windsor Great Park, and the species 

 were likewise numerous in the hard winter of 1866-7. 

 Mr. Wolley saw five of these birds near Surley lock, 

 for several days in the month of February 1867. 

 In Mr. Gould's work on the ' Birds of Great Britain/ 

 he observes that he has often known large troops 

 of Siskins to frequent Taplow and Cliefden woods. 

 In the parks at Langley and Stoke it is not uncom- 

 mon in cold weather. 



The food of the Siskin consists chiefly of various 

 seeds, and it is an interesting sight to see a flock 

 flying from tree to tree and passing from branch to 

 branch, eagerly searching the alder, birch, larch, and 

 other trees, for the hidden food. It very rarely 

 breeds in this country, but the nest has been taken 

 in Aberdeenshire, near New Abbey in Galloway, and 

 in some other parts of Scotland. 



LESSER REDPOLE (Linota linaria). Provincially 

 called the Common Redpole. A winter visitor. It 

 is never very common, but small flocks begin to 



