recollect rightly, Estrelda amandava ; at all events, I 

 well recollect giving serious offence to a bird-loving lady 

 who showed me what she called an " Aberdavat," by 

 assuring her that her pet was " only a Siskin." During 

 the winter, the only season in which I have had oppor- 

 tunities of observing the Siskin in freedom, it is gene- 

 rally to be met with in small flocks, clustering on alders 

 or birches, and keeping up a constant musical twitter ; 

 I have also frequently noticed that these birds find food 

 of some sort amongst the dead sedges that fringe our 

 rivers and brooks. These birds will often nest and 

 breed in captivity, but Professor Newton informs us 

 that the young are not frequently reared in such circum- 

 stance. As I have never had the good fortune to see 

 either nest or eggs in situ, I cannot do better than 

 refer my readers to the very interesting article written 

 by my above-named friend in Yarrell's ' British Birds/ 

 ed. 4, vol. ii. 



