280 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



fields in long, waving swoops. It is commonly found in forests of hemlock, 

 pine and spruce, alder swamps, and open fields. The Siskin is fully as 

 gregarious as the Redpoll, in my experience. It is no uncommon thing 

 in the month of November and again in late April or the first half of May 

 to see flocks of 500 or 600 Siskins sweeping over the country, sometimes 

 remaining only for a few minutes in any given locality, and then con- 

 tinuing their wanderings, their presence being determined largely by an 

 abundance of their favorite food. It feeds principally on the seeds of 

 conifers and various weeds, scarcely differing in this respect from the 

 Goldfinch and Redpoll, but is perhaps more confined to seeds of the hem- 

 lock and the pine than these species. Its call note is a melancholy " ckee-a" 

 and the flight call is a chippering " tit-i-tit." The Siskin also has a song 

 suggesting that of the Goldfinch, but less melodious. 



The nest is usually saddled on a large limb of hemlock or other conifer 

 20 to 30 feet from the ground among the thick foliage. It is a bulky 

 structure with a rough exterior, loosely built of hemlock twigs and sprigs 

 of moss, about 6 inches in external diameter. The interior is compactly 

 woven of thistledown, fur and hair, the innermost lining being of horse- 

 hair and the inside dimensions given by Meams 2.25 by 1.25 inches. The 

 eggs are 4 to 6 in number, bluish white, slightly spotted with reddish; 

 average dimensions .67 by .46 inches. 



Carduelis carduelis (Linnaeus) 

 European Goldfinch 



Plate 79 



carduelis, Lat., thistlefinch, goldfinch 



Description. Size and shape of the American goldfinch; fore face bright red, that of 

 the crown and brow separated from that of the throat by black lores; behind the red 

 on the sides of the head and upper throat is a margin of white, brightest on the side of 

 the head ; crown and band behind the white on the side of the head and neck black; 

 upper parts cinnamon brown; breast and sides tinged with the same; belly white; wings 

 and tail black; the feathers tipped with white ; a large yellow patch in the wing. 



Length 5.5 inches; wing 3; tail 2.95; bill .5. 



