SISKIN, 5AT 
trees, turning over the fallen mast, and eating part of the 
kernels, as well as any seeds they could find among them. 
In 1828 they again appeared; but in 1829 not one was 
seen. In the winter of 1830 they were equally wanting.” 
Mr. Drew of Paisley says, “ Harly in June 1833, at 
which time I resided at Inverary, I went out one morning 
to fish, and, according to my usual practice, I earried a 
light gun with me. I was rather surprised, at that season, 
to see a pair of Siskins among some furze bushes, on the 
shore of Lochfine, and the birds being close together, I 
killed both. On dissecting the female, an egg was found 
ready for exclusion, and I never had any doubt but that 
the birds were breeding in the neighbourhood, though I 
did not look for, or see, the nest. It is very likely that 
it was in some of the spruces, which were the predominant 
trees in the place. I subsequently secured a pair of Siskins 
in the same locality.” 
A correspondent residing in the Vale of Alford, Aber- 
deenshire, thus notices in Mr. Loudon’s Magazine of Na- 
tural History, vol. vi., the appearance of the Siskin in the 
breeding season. ‘“‘ A gentleman in the neighbourhood 
observed some about the middle of May ; the first that I 
noticed was on the 27th: it was picking seeds of grass on 
the edge of the road, and was not at all shy; I saw 
others afterwards, at different times and places, till the 
end of June.” 
William Gardiner, Esq. jun. of Dundee, says of the 
Siskin, “‘ occasionally a pair or two linger with us during 
the breeding season, and produce their young. Near the 
end of May 1834, a nest full of young ones was found in 
Camperdown Woods; the nest was situated close to the 
trunk, at the insertion of a branch of a spruce fir, about 
six feet from the ground. It was composed of materials 
similar to those used by the Chaffinch, and contained three 
NN 2 
