340 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



by fastening up the branch with a rope, so that it could not bend 

 or break as I made my way out along it. 



All the Siskins' nests I found this year were in CooUattin 

 woods, the locality where these birds abound in summer; but 

 that discovered on May aist, 1886 (Zool. p. 489), was at a place 

 called Ballard, beside the Derry, two miles farther down the 

 valley. I know that Siskins have been breeding at this latter 

 place this year also, as I have observed both adult and young 

 birds there. 



The dimensions of the nest now before me are : — External 

 diameter, about Sg- in. ; internal diameter, If in. ; depth, Ig- in. 

 The foundation and outer structure are composed of small dead 

 spruce twigs, while the walls of the nest are chiefly formed of 

 green moss, with fine roots around the margin, the whole being 

 bound together with wool, and smoothly lined with fibrous roots, 

 wool, horsehair, and a few feathers. The eggs are almost equal 

 to those of the Goldfinch in size, or very slightly smaller ; of a 

 pale bluish green, nearly identical with the ground colour of a 

 Bullfinch's egg, and with small specks of subdued lilac and a few 

 larger spots and dashes of deep purple and reddish brown. In 

 some the darker spots are nearly or entirely absent. 



The young Siskins appear to be fed partly on Aphides, for 

 while watching the parent birds carrying food to them I have 

 observed that they gathered it from the leaves and green shoots 

 of the alder trees, which nearly always swarm with Aphides, as 

 anyone can testify who lias made his way through an alder thicket 

 in early summer, the offensive insects falling down from the 

 branches in showers at the slightest touch. 



I know no birds so interesting and varied in their habits as 

 Siskins. Their extreme restlessness makes them very difficult 

 to watch, for they seldom remain near the same spot even for a 

 few minutes at a time. They particularly affect the tops of large 

 fir trees, the highest point of the tallest spruce-firs being their 

 favourite resting-place. From such a point of vantage their call- 

 note, which is loud and clear, resembling the word " glee," is 

 constantly repeated. This call sometimes so nearly resembles 

 that of the Coal Titmouse as to be indistinguishable from it, 

 except by a practised ear, especially as the two species frequent 

 the same trees, and are often found in company. The male 

 Siskins are most indefatigable and pleasing songsters, and the 



