ON THR BREEDING HABITS OF THE SISKIN. 341 



song is uttered from a branch, or tree top, as well as on the wing. 

 Frequentl)- whilst singing the bird may be observed" to dart from 

 its perch with an upward and somewhat circular flight, after the 

 manner of a Meadow or Tree Pipit, and after describing a curve 

 to realight at a little distance. But there is this difference, that 

 while a Meadow Pipit sings but once during its flight, the Siskin 

 often repeats its song several times before alighting, but always 

 changes the direction of its flight each time that it recommences 

 its song. This manoeuvre is always accompanied by a wavering 

 and desultory motion of the wings, as if the bird was wounded 

 and scarcely able to fly — a peculiar habit which is exhibited by 

 the Greenfinch also in the pairing season. These flights are 

 often many times repeated within a few minutes, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of the nest, and while the female is occupied in 

 building. The song itself seems to include notes of almost 

 every other small bird, but I do not think it likely that the notes 

 are in reality borrowed. Sometimes it assumes a considerable 

 resemblance to that of the Chaffinch, but is rather harsher and 

 more prolonged. Then, again, the bird will sing almost without 

 a pause for some minutes together, introducing sounds which 

 resemble the notes of the Sedge Warbler, Sky Lark, Goldfinch, 

 Redpoll, Sparrow, and many other birds ; but the most charac- 

 teristic part of the whole is a prolonged ci'eaking note, with 

 which the song generally concludes. This is a sound which 

 once heard is not likely to be soon forgotten, or mistaken for the 

 note of any other bird. It is one of those strange bird-sounds 

 which, like the "drumming" of the Snipe, the "churr" of the 

 Nightjar, or the "trill" of the Grasshopper Warbler, are difficult 

 to describe. Another note, which is not so often heard, is a soft 

 chatter, which the bird generally utters as a call to its mate or 

 companions when about to take flight. 



The male Siskins differ considerably in colour, some being of 

 so bright a yellow as to resemble Canaries, the throat being 

 jet-black, while others are greener and more dingy, the black 

 on the throat being nearly or entirely absent. These last are 

 evidently younger birds. 



