278 OUE natht: songsters. 



found it impossible to procure their nests. Mr. 

 Thompson is also of opinion that the siskin pro- 

 bably builds in the north of Ireland. The favourite 

 resorts of the bird are plantations of larch, alder, 

 and bircli-trees, and during their winter stay, they 

 feed chiefly on the seeds of these trees ; while 

 in Germany, Norway, and Sweden, where they 

 abound, the nest is placed on the very highest 

 branches of the pine. Bechstein says that the 

 siskin is so common in villages of Germany, and 

 so courageous, that any one residing near an alder 

 grove need only put one of these birds in the 

 -window, near a stick covered with bird-lime, and 

 he may catch as many as he pleases. The siskins, 

 during the month of October, injure the hop 

 grounds of Gemiany very materially, by eating 

 the seeds of the plant; and in France tliey are 

 accused of despoiling the orchards in spring, by 

 pecking at the flowers of the fruit-trees. 



These birds fly at a great height, and their 

 movements are very active and gracefuL They 

 are large eaters, and in captivity will consume so 

 much food as to endanger their lives. They share, 

 during autumn, with the goldfinch, in the feast of 



