YELLOW-BREASTED BIRDS. 117 



houses in company with Chaffinches, Yellowhammers, 

 and similar birds. There is no other British bird 

 approximating to the green and yellow colouring of 

 the Greenfinch except the Siskin, which is much 

 smaller. 



SISKIN — 4J inches. A tiny bird, Tit-like in its feeding antics 

 in the trees ; greenish above, with dusky streaks ; yellow 

 below, streaked with black on the flanks ; tail dusky, 

 yellow at base ; crown and chin black in the male ; 

 Itnown chiefly as a winter visitor. 



SISKIN.— Form, like a little Greenfinch (plate 52). 

 Length, 4 J inches. Crown and chin black ; general 

 colour above greenish-yellow, with dusky streaks ; clear 

 yellow towards tail ; wings dusky, with greenish- 

 yellow wing-bar, and gray edges to the feathers ; 

 tail bright yellow, heavily tipped with black, except 

 the two central feathers, which are wholly black ; 

 under parts yellow, streaked with black on the 

 flanks. Female: duller, and lacks the black crown. 

 Resident and winter migrant. 



Eggs. — 4-6, pale blue, speckled with reddish- 

 brown, and with underlying gray markings ; "65 x '47 

 inch (plate 126). 



Nest. — Of fir-twigs, rootlets, and moss, lined with 

 hair and feathers, and placed high up against the 

 stem of a birch or fir, or out on a branch ; also in 

 gorse and other bushes. 



Distribution. — Principally in the pine districts of 

 Scotland and Ireland ; increasingly rare southwards, 

 but more generally diffused in winter. 



