2 



ABERDEVINE. 



portion. Size of the redpole, (Fringilla linaria,) or between that 

 and the linnet. Length rather more than five inches ; bill reddish- 

 white, tipped with blackish -brown ; eyes, umber-brown ; head, greenish- 

 black ; over each eye a pale streak of dingy primrose-yellow ; neck, 

 back, wings, and tail, oil-green ; paler, and more yellow, on the 

 lower parts of the back towards the tail-coverts. The feathers of the 

 back and wings are streaked down the middle with a tint formed of 

 blackish -green and hair-brown ; sides of the head, throat, breast, and 

 under parts, pale wax-yellow, inclining to sulphur-yellow ; middle of 

 the parts below the breast very pale wine-yellow, passing into white ; 

 across each wing are two bands of primrose-yellow, and between them 

 one of black ; part of the quills and tail edged with pale gamboger 

 yellow ; legs and feet pale flesh-red. The head of the female is of a 

 brownish-colour, inclining to grey where the male is black ; cheeks 

 and sides of the neck siskin green or oil green ; and all the rest of her 

 plumage is of a more dingy colour than in the male. 



Siskins, says Syme, though not equal to canaries as song-birds, 

 yet bring as high prices, because bird-fanciers are always anxious to 

 possess them, for the purpose of pairing them with canaries. They 

 are healthy, mild, and docile birds ; and when paired with canaries, 

 their progeny generally inherit the same good qualities, and therefore 

 they are highly prized by amateurs. Besides, no other bird pairs 

 so readily with the canary ; whether it be the hen siskin with the 

 cock canary, or the cock siskin with the hen canary, the male and 

 female of each species pair equally well. This is not the case with 

 the goldfinch, chaffinch, or linnet : it is only the males of these birds 

 that pair with the hen canary : and this leads Mr. Syme to think, that, 

 if the siskin is not the wild canary, or stock-bird, it is a species that 

 approaches so close to it as almost to appear only a marked or distinct 

 variety. These birds are common in Europe, though rather rare with 

 us, and said to be only winter visitors. Their true habitation appears 

 to be the North of Europe. 



Montagu, in his Supplement, says, that, in the month of December, 

 1805, a small flock of these birds were seen, busy in extracting the 

 seed from the alder trees in the south of Devon ; several of which 

 were shot. The weather was severe, and a heavy fall of snow suc- 

 ceeded. Bewick tells us, that one, which he kept many years in a 

 cage, had a pleasing and sweetly-varied song, and that it imitated the 

 notes of other birds : it was caught on the banks of the Tyne. About 

 London, the Siskin is called the Aberdevine by bird-catchers, who 

 occasionally take a few of these birds. In all places they are migratory, 



