468 



SISKIN FINCH. 



primaries slightly edged with greenish yellow on 

 the outer web, and at the base of the' inner; the 

 rest of the quills edged with the same on their 

 outer webs only, near the ends ; the base of each 

 feather, for nearly one half, pale yellow : tail very 

 much forked; the two middle feathers dusky, the 

 rest yellow half way from the base ; the ends dusky, 

 slightly edged with yellow on the outer webs : 

 legs pale : female differs in having the crown of 

 the head dusky and grey mixed, and the general 

 aspect much duller : young males have the black 

 feathers of the head margined with brown; in other 

 respects they resemble the old bird, but are not 

 quite so bright in colour. There are two or three 

 varieties of this bird mentioned by Buffon and 

 ^others ; but as they are found in other parts of the 

 globe, it will be most prudent (to avoid confusion) 

 not to attach them, to this, as some of them ap- 

 pear to be very distinct species. 



The Siskin is common in most parts of Europe, 

 but is scarce in this country, which it only appears 

 to migrate to occasionally, not having been known 

 to breed here, unless the assertion of Mr. Bolton, 

 in his Harmonia Ruralis, be correct, where it is 

 said to breed in Westmoreland : the nest is deli- 

 neated by Sepp, placed in a fork of a tree, built 

 with dry bents, and leaves, and thickly lined with 

 feathers : the eggs are three in number, and of a 

 dull white : its food consists principally of seeds : 

 it drinks often, and seems to be partial to throwing 

 the water over its feathers. It is often paired with 

 the Canary, with which it breeds freely ; and when 



