494 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



On July 2nd and 3rd I saw a family of five Siskins in my hill- plantation. 

 This year (1883) Siskins frequented the grounds close to this house ; I saw 

 the male and female on June 30th and July 3rd, 8th and 9th. On the 3rd 

 July I pointed out the male to the Rev. Mr. Flemyng, and on the 8th hoth 

 birds were feeding for some time among the meadow herbage, about twenty 

 yards from the table where I write, while I watched them through an opera- 

 glass. On the 29th this pair of Siskins, evidently, appeared with their 

 young ones, for I saw five, including young birds, Hying about the haunts 

 of the old pair. I have made special notes of the appearance of the Siskin 

 here in the breeding season, having seen it mentioned in books of Natural 

 History as a winter visitant: at the latter season it appears here in small 

 flocks. Still it is not a bird that one may reckon on finding at all times, 

 like the Goldfinch ; it will disappear unaccountably, and when I begin to 

 fear that it has forsaken the locality, it appears again as unexpectedly. Its 

 eggs I have never taken. Of its habits in the breeding season I wrote in 

 1858 as follows: — "In April and May, 1857, Siskins were unusually 

 common at Cappagli in the woods of fir, both on the low ground and on 

 the hill-side; in fact, the woods were continually ringing with the song of 

 this bird. You might hear it as it flew over the wood uttering its peculiar 

 cry, half chirp, half song ; at one time flying straight forward, as if to some 

 destination, then turning and making a circuit, as if it did not know its own 

 mind, or as if it were loth to descend from its joyous flight, then again 

 darting off in a new direction, whilst its notes would gradually die away. 

 Its every tone and movement is full of animation and delight, as if it were 

 beside itself with pleasure : this is particularly the case in the nesting 

 season, at which time I have seen the male flying slowly towards some 

 topmost spray of a fir tree, pouring forth his delightful little warbling song, 

 which very much resembles that of a Goldfinch, but is to my ears far 

 sweeter. It very often sings when flying, but more frequently when 

 perching on some fir-tree top ; indeed the Siskin in spring seems more like 

 a visitor from a happier world. On the 29th May, 1880, the late Professor 

 Leith Adams, who was staying here, saw several Siskins. He remarked 

 them particularly about the tall Spruce and silver firs to the north of the 

 garden, into which trees I saw the Siskins fly that I observed so often 

 early in July last. — R. J. Ussher (Cappagli, Co. Waterfordj. 



Siskin in Co. Down.— I recollect, at least twice, getting young Siskins 

 just taken from the nest and rearing them. I was then living in the County 

 Down, and got the birds from Creighton, the gamekeeper at Tollymore 

 Park, an intelligent and keen observer of birds. I also remember seeing the 

 birds with him, and which he told me he had reared himself from the nest. 

 I never found the nests myself. This was probably about the year 1858. — 

 W. E. L 'Estrange Duffin (Whitechurch House, Co. Waterford). 



