146 BIRDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND. 



THE SISKIN. 

 CARDUELIS SPIN VS. 



THIRTY years ago, this pretty little bird was a well-known winter 

 visitant in some parts of Lanarkshire ; but from all I can learn, it 

 is now much less common, or at least not so steady in its times of 

 appearance. In certain seasons it may still be said to be plenti- 

 ful in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, where, however, the flocks 

 are very soon thinned by the professional bird-catchers. The 

 same may be said of its visits to other counties in the west 

 of Scotland, with the exception perhaps of Argyleshire and 

 Sutherlandshire; in some parts of the last named county, it ap- 

 pears to be resident all the year. But it is doubtful if the 

 Siskin has yet been recognised on the western side of Suther- 

 land, although Mr St John states in his " Tour" that " it is in 

 almost every wood during spring and summer." Mr Brown has 

 informed me that it is certainly not known in the district of 

 Assynt, but that it breeds plentifully in the woods at Dunrobin 

 Castle. He has likewise found it breeding on the banks of the Dee 

 in Aberdeen shire. As a rule, the nesting localities for the Siskin 

 are situated in the eastern counties of Scotland. Its nest has been 

 taken near Glasgow, in Kirkcudbrightshire, in Perthshire, and in 

 Dumfriesshire all of which districts are, no doubt, exceptions to 

 that rule; but as the main flocks assemble on the north-eastern 

 counties previous to quitting our shores, it is more natural to 

 find stray parties remaining there, especially should the general 

 outset be delayed by adverse weather. From Berwickshire to 

 Caithness, therefore, the migratory flocks are extremely numerous 

 in some seasons, appearing in the autumn before the foliage has 

 been blown off the trees, and again in March and April, just be- 

 fore leaving. I saw a number of Siskins, evidently mated, in the 

 woods of Altyre, near Forres, in the beginning of May, 1870. In 

 East Lothian, I have met with pairs in June at Dunbar and 

 elsewhere; and I have records of its having bred in that county, 

 and in Fifeshire, Forfarshire, and Kincardineshire. Generally 

 speaking, the flocks are largest in severe winters. 



The Siskin does not appear to have occurred in Orkney, but it 

 is a rare winter visitor to Shetland. 



