FINCHES. 385 



This group comprehends a number of small finches, characterised 

 The Siskins • 



by the possession of a long and acute bill, long wings, and a short, 



deeply-forked tail; green and yellow predominating in their plumage. All are 



highly gregarious in habits. They belong to both the Old and New Worlds, 



having representatives in Abyssinia, the Himalaya, Siberia, the United States, 



and especially South America, where several species are found in Chili, Bolivia, 



Ecuador, and other parts of that continent. 



One of the most charming birds of the United States is the 

 ' yellow-bird or American siskin (Chrysomitris tristis), which is also 

 common in many parts of Canada. It is a lively, graceful species, full of 

 vivacity, and leads a social life, roving about in small communities. Even in the 

 breeding-season these birds are partial to the company of their fellows, and fly in 

 flocks between their nests and their favourite feeding-grounds, where they consume 

 the seeds of various wild plants. The nest is small and compact, built of soft, 

 downy substances. The eggs are white, with a rosy blush when fresh. After the 

 breeding-season, the family parties unite permanently, and rove over the prairies 

 in search of weedy places where they can find subsistence. The adult male in 

 summer is bright golden yellow above and below; the crown and wings being 

 black, the great coverts tipped with white ; and the tail black spotted with white. 

 In September the general plumage changes to pale flaxen brown above, and whitish 

 brown below. 



From Japan to the British Isles the common siskin (C. spinus) 

 is found in suitable localities, breeding chiefly in the northern part 

 of its range. During the breeding-season the cock-birds are restless and lively, 

 singing nearly all day, generally while on the wing, and sending their joyous call- 

 notes ringing through the air. The nest is very like that of the goldfinch, although 

 not so neat ; the one example that has come under our notice having been placed 

 in a fir-tree about twelve feet from the ground. Although only occasionally nesting 

 in England, the siskin breeds regularly in Scotland ; and it has been recorded as 

 breeding in Ireland. In winter it frequents alder groves, living in flocks, and 

 searching the catkins for their seeds ; and we have also seen it feeding on thistle- 

 heads and the seeds of wild grasses. It occasionally interpairs with the lesser 

 redpoll and goldfinch in confinement. The general colour of the male siskin is 

 yellowish green above, the rump being bright yellow ; the quills are blackish, the 

 primaries being edged with bright yellow ; the tail-feathers are blackish, edged 

 with yellow, and all but the central feathers yellow at the base ; the chin is black, 

 and the throat and breast are bright yellow. 



A less well-known member of the siskin group is the citril finch 

 (C. citrinella), which is an inhabitant of the Tyrol, many parts of 

 Switzerland, Greece, and other districts in the south of Europe. Avoiding the 

 plains, this bird generally nests among pine-forests, as far as possible from human 

 habitations. In the Jura, Mr. Scott Wilson states that after some search his party 

 at length discovered a nest of this finch " placed high up in a spruce-fir, at the 

 extreme end of a branch. The chasseur climbed up, and brought down the nest 

 with three eggs. This nest, which contained several feathers of the nutcracker, 

 was cup-shaped, and constructed chiefly of dry grass stems, moss, and thistle-down, 

 vol. 111. — 25 



