72 Order I 



Africa, and western Asia. The bird's fondness for 

 the seeds of thistles, groundsel, and other composite 

 plants is unfortunately well understood by bird- 

 catchers, who take many individuals in their clap-nets 

 when and where they have no business to do so ; but 

 the sweet song is little appreciated save in captivity, 

 though country-folk are generally able to recognise the 

 clear call-note. The Goldfinch often escapes observa- 

 tion as it passes lightly above our heads, for its bright 

 colours shew up badly on the wing ; while the nest, 

 a pretty little cup of moss and wool with the softest 

 of linings, is usually well hidden at the top of a fruit 

 or other tree, though occasionally placed in a hedge or 

 shrub. The four or five eggs are very pale bluish white 

 with purplish or blackish spots. 



The Siskin (Spinus spinus) is comparatively rare, 

 and in Britain only breeds regularly in eastern and south- 

 western Scotland and in Ireland, though occasionally 

 in various English and Welsh counties where spruces 

 and larches abound. From autumn to spring, however, 

 flocks are seen in many other districts, feeding on the 

 seeds of the alders and ragwort or flitting about the 

 country-side ; yet the bird is local with us and also 

 abroad, where it inhabits northern and central Europe 

 and Asia as far as Japan. Perhaps it is best known 

 in cages, for it is a favourite on account of its sweet, 

 if not varied, song and the bright colours of the male, 

 which is greenish olive with yellow breast and rump, 

 black and yellow wing and tail markings; and also 

 has a black crown and throat. The female shews much 

 less yellow and no black above and is streaked, especially 

 on the whitish under parts, with brown. The flight, 

 the nest and eggs are much as in the Goldfinch, but the 



