SISKIN, 81 
SISKIN. 
CHRYSOMITRIS spINus, Linn. 
Pl. XIIL., fig. 4. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally, visiting N. Africa in winter; Asia 
as far eastward as China and Japan: in Great Britain it is chiefly 
confined to the northern counties of England and to Scotland. 
Food.—Insects (Aphides, when young), seeds, and berries. 
Nest.—Small, formed of spruce-twigs and bents, lined with cotton 
of Salix and a few feathers. 
_ Position of nest.—Carefully concealed in bushes of spruce or 
juniper in forests. 
Number of eggs.—4-5. 
Time of nidification.—IV-V1; April. 
Speaking of the habits of the Siskin in the breeding 
season, Mr. R. J. Ussher says, “In April and May, 1857, 
Siskins were unusually common at Cappagh, in the woods 
of fir, both on the low ground and on the hill side; in fact, 
the woods were continually ringing with the song of this 
bird. You might hear it as it flew over the wood uttering 
its peculiar cry, half chirp, half song; at one time flying 
straight forward, as if to some destination, then turning 
and making a circuit, as if it did not know its own mind, 
or as if it were loth to descend from its joyous flight, then 
again darting off in a new direction, whilst its notes would 
gradually die away. Its every tone and movement is full 
of animation and delight, as if it were beside itself with 
pleasure ; this is particularly the case in the nesting-season, 
at which time I have seen the male flying slowly towards 
some topmost spray of a fir tree, pouring forth his delight- 
ful little warbling song, which very much resembles that of 
a Goldfinch, but is to my ears far sweeter. It very often 
sings when flying, but more frequently when perching on 
some fir-tree top; indeed the Siskin in spring seems more 
like a visitor from a happier world.” 
The Siskin is for the most part an autumn visitor to 
England, arriving in flocks towards the end of September, 
and remaining with us until April; it, has, however, been 
recorded as breeding in Kent, Surrey, Dorset, Sussex, 
Middlesex, Oxford, Gloucester, Denbigh, Bedford, Derby, 
York, Westmoreland and Durham. ‘Two broods are reared 
in the year, the first eggs being laid in April, the second in 
June. The call-note is ‘‘ hootelee, hootelee.” 
