64 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 
green food, and (although I do not approve of such food) it is as fond as the Goldfinch 
and the whole of the Tits of picking a bone, clinging to it in all positions, and 
behaving in every respect exactly like a Tit. The Siskin is one of the most 
charming of all aviary birds, on account of its wonderfully confiding nature. I 
turned a pair which I purchased in November, 1889, about three weeks after their 
capture, into a large aviary; and, in three days, they had so thoroughly learned 
to trust me, that they flew into my hand and disputed over poppy-seed and egg; 
one of these birds lived for three years, and would even permit me to raise my 
hand until my nose touched her beak, when she would fly off to a twig, and return 
directly I held my hand out to her again; there were two hens and a cock in 
this trio, and the male outlived both of his wives; finally he appeared to have 
acquired a growth in his throat, which obstructed his breathing; therefore as my 
experience of doctoring birds is, that in nineteen out of twenty cases it kills them 
within ten minutes, I thought I would give my Siskin the opportunity of doctoring 
himself; so I turned him loose in my garden, where he remained for about an 
hour, and then flew straight away. I have had many other Siskins at various 
times, sometimes three or four pairs together; they have always become very tame 
in a surprisingly short period, and have been altogether delightful pets; but 
most of them have died within a few months. Siskins do not seem to have any- 
thing like the constitution of most Goldfinches. One tame little hen bird, however, 
lived to a good age; and, when she had lost three husbands in succession, I caged 
her and made a regular pet of her. After six months I wearied of the extra labour 
(every separate cage adding to the time occupied in providing for my large family) ; 
I therefore turned Cissie, as I called her, into one of my bird-room aviaries; but 
she had forgotten all about liberty, flew wildly against the wires in the greatest 
terror, and presently settled down in a corner with her face to the wall; having 
evidently decided that life was no longer worth having: I therefore picked her 
up and restored her to her cage, where she sat looking stupid for half an hour 
before she recovered. I subsequently gave this bird to a young lady, who christened 
her Priscilla, and made much of her to the day of her death about a year later. 
