7O BRITISH BIRDS. 



faint purplish-red ; size *68 by "50. Two broods are 

 produced. Food consists chiefly of seeds of thistle, dock, 

 etc., but young are fed upon insects and small caterpillars. 

 A portion of the birds which breed here leave us in winter, 

 but small parties remain and frequent waste lands, etc. 



GENUS XXXVI. CHRYSOMITRIS, Boie (1828). 

 Bill as in Carduelis but shorter ; wings and tail also 

 similar ; tarsi more slender ; claws sharp and curved. 

 Size small ; general tint of plumage greenish-yellow. 



85. Chrysomitris spinus (Linn.). SISKIN. 



Hab. Palaearctic Region ; in Europe breeding from 

 within Arctic Circle to Central Europe. 



Male : crown, lores and chin black ; cheeks and ear- 

 coverts olive-green, bordered above by a broad stripe of 

 yellow ; nape, mantle and lesser wing-coverts olive-green, 

 streaked with blackish ; rump yellow, wings blackish, 

 greater-coverts tipped with yellow, and quills with yellow 

 margins and bases ; two middle tail-feathers and tips of 

 remainder blackish, rest of tail yellow ; lower throat and 

 breast greenish-yellow ; sides yellowish with dusky 

 streaks ; centre of belly white ; bill yellowish-brown ; 

 tarsi brown. Length 475. Female : crown merely 

 streaked with black, and yellow of plumage is much 

 duller. 



Breeds in Cumberland, and perhaps other northern 

 counties, and generally throughout East Scotland, but 

 more rarely in the west ; in Ireland breeds locally in most 

 of counties on east side. To greater part of England and 

 Wales a rather common visitor in winter or on migration, 

 but veiy rarely nesting. Frequents chiefly plantations of 

 coniferous trees. Eggs : similar to those of Goldfinch but 

 of a more greenish-blue tint ; size '65 by '48. 



