4 
with in Stordal. On the west coast it occurs sparingly in the conifer-woods, as at Etne and on 
the Sodndfiord. On the fell-sides it sometimes ranges up to the birch-region, and has been 
observed on the Hemsedalsfjeld and the Dovre. 
Professor Sundevall says that during the summer season it is generally distributed through- 
out Sweden, but is rare in Lapland, and does not range above the conifer-growth. In summer it 
is rare in Skane, but common in the winter. I found it very common throughout Finland; and 
Von Wright thinks that a few may remain over winter, as he has observed them very early in 
the spring near Kuopio. I have received specimens from near Archangel, where it is said to be 
common; and Mr. Sabanaeff informs me that it sometimes breeds in the Moscow and Jaroslaf 
Governments, and is seen in large numbers during passage. It sometimes remains over winter 
in Central Russia. In the Ural it was met with by Mr. Sabanieff throughout the conifer-woods 
in the Perm Government. It is generally distributed throughout Poland, the Baltic provinces, 
and Germany during the autumn and winter, and breeds in some localities. Mr. A. von Homeyer 
says (J. f. O. 1870, p. 222) that it breeds in the Gorlitz and Glogau woods, in the former of 
which he saw them flying about with nesting-materials in their bills, but could not find a nest. 
In the Glogan woods a sportsman captured a female, which laid an egg on the day after her 
capture; and, Mr. Homeyer adds, the Siskin certainly breeds in the forests of Darmstadt. 
Kjerbolling says that it is somewhat rare in Denmark, where, in the summer, it frequents the 
conifer-woods, and in winter is found in flocks, chiefly where birches and alders are common. It 
occurs in Holland, and is said to breed in Gelderland ; and in Belgium and the north of France 
it is of annual occurrence in autumn, and large numbers remain throughout the winter, leaving 
in April. Only a few pairs breed in the wooded mountains of the Ardennes. 
It is stated by Professor Barboza du Bocage to be rare in Portugal, and it is an uncertain 
winter visitant to Spain. Colonel Irby writes (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 125) that “in Andalucia they 
are very irregular in appearance, in some winters not being noticed at all. The Spaniards say 
they only come every seventh year. This idea is prevalent about Seville, as well as near Gibraltar, 
but is, I need not say, a popular error. In the winter of 1870-71 they were plentiful wherever 
there were any alder trees; and I saw some as late as the 4th of April. In the two previous 
winters, and during the one following, none were obtained by the bird-catchers, who are always 
looking out for them, as they are much desired and fetch a good price as cage-birds. During 
my last visit I saw four on a cotton-poplar tree in the Alameda at Gibraltar, on the 24th of 
March; they were so tame as to allow of my approach within a yard of them, and remained for — 
a long time close to me.” It is said to be abundant in Savoy in the spring and summer months 
in suitable localities; and some breed on the southern slopes of the Alps, in the more elevated 
portions of Lombardy. In most districts in Italy, however, it is only an autumn and winter 
visitant, and is of somewhat irregular occurrence in Sicily. Cara says that it visits Sardinia 
regularly during passage; but Mr. A. B. Brooke remarks that he never met with it there either 
in the spring or the autumn. It is found in Malta during passage; and Lord Lilford states that 
it is abundant in Epirus in winter, at which season it is, Dr. Kriiper says, common in Greece. 
He met with it in Acarnania, in the Parnassus, on the Isthmus in Attica, and at Taygetos. In 
the winter of 1875-74 many were caught near Athens. It breeds in Southern Germany; and 
Dr. Fritsch says that its nest has been found in the Zavis valley, near Prague. In winter large 
