82 FRINGILLIDJE. 



aptness for instruction, that it is such a favourite cage-bird. 

 At times we see its docility painfully turned to advantage in 

 confinement, by causing it to minister to its own wants in 

 drawing up the vessels containing its food and drink, the bird 

 being secured by a chain and a link fastened on the breast, 

 and its only enjoyment, the complacent admiration of itself in 

 the looking-glass attached to the back of the cage. 



Sometimes in winter the goldfinch furnishes a small contin- 

 gent to the large flocks of linnets and other species. 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 78 THE SISKIN. 



Carduelis spinus. Selby. 

 Gros-bec tarin. Temm. 



Aberdevine. 



THIS species is only an occasional winter visitant to our island, 

 and most uncertain in its periodical visits, it occurs either in 

 large flocks, or as often individually. 



During the winter of 1847 they appeared in many districts 

 in the neighbourhood of Dublin, and in considerable numbers, 

 particularly at Ranelagh, where they came under the obser- 

 vation of Mr. G. Kinahan, Jun. Smaller in size than the 

 goldfinch, it resembles it in habits and song, and has also the 

 same elegant compactness of form which distinguishes that 

 bird. 



By the dealers of cage -birds the siskin is occasionally ob- 

 tained, and is generally captured by means of limed twigs 

 and a call-linnet or finch. From the accounts given by those 

 persons, they are described as being tame and easily ap- 

 proached. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



GENUS XXXIX. FRINGILL^E (FINCH). 



SPECIES 79 THE CHAFFINCH. 



Fringilla ccelebs. Linn. 

 Gros-bec pinson. Temm. 



THE CHAFFINCH, as familiar as it is beautiful, is widely dis- 

 tributed over the greater portion of the island. 



One of the first to herald the approach of spring, we hear 

 it enlivening every grove and plantation with its reiterated 

 and monotonous " pink, pink" challenging each other by 

 their song, the entire wood re-echoes with their short thril- 



