THE



Bxncultural /ilbagasiite^


BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. V. —No. 56.



All rights reserved.



JUNE, 1899.



THE AMERICAN SISKIN.


( Chrysomitris tristis).


By D. Seth-Smith, F.Z.S.


In June of last year (1898) Mr. Swaysland, of Brighton,,

imported a fine pair of this species, which soon came into the

possession of the present writer. They were placed in an

outdoor aviary with numerous other birds, where, for two or

three months, they appeared to thrive and do well, and

occasionally were seen carrying about small pieces of various

substances, which had been supplied as building material for

any of the birds that cared to make use of it. The cock, in full

summer dress of lemon-yellow and black, was one of the most

conspicuous birds in the aviary, and his merry song, uttered

throughout the greater part of the day, was most pleasing.


During the latter part of the summer the writer was

obliged to be away from home for months together, and the care

of the birds was entrusted to others: a course seldom satisfactory

although often unavoidable. One day both birds were found dead

upon the floor ; and their skins being valued too highly for the

bodies to be sent away for post mortem examination, the exact

cause of death was never ascertained.


Although the pair above referred to lived but a short time

(fortunately long enough for our artist to obtain a most charming

and life-like drawing of them) it is probable that this, the so-

called American Goldfinch, might live for a long time in

captivity if properly treated ; but it cannot be regarded as a

very hardy species. As to food, it requires a variety of seed to

keep it in health : probably the same treatment as is usually

adopted in the case of our British Goldfinch and Siskin would

generally be found to succeed with their American cousin :

such seeds as thistle, linseed, hemp, rape, and canan aid be



