THE ABERDEVINE. 



Fringilla Spin us, Linn. 



The Aberdevine, or European Siskin, is some- 

 what less than the Goldfinch, and the tail is much 

 shorter in proportion. Its true habitation appears 

 to be the more northern parts of Europe ; but it is 

 said to breed sometimes in Westmoreland, and 

 likewise in Scotland. It descends southwards on 

 the approach of winter ; and in the neighbour- 

 hood of London, numbers of them are regularly 

 taken every autumn by the bird-catchers, though 

 in much greater abundance in some seasons than in 

 others. Early in the month of March, — though in 

 some seasons not until the middle of April, at 

 which time their plumage has acquired its full 

 summer brightness, — the Aberdevines leave the 

 south of England for the pine-forests of Scotland, in 

 some of which they have been ascertained to breed. 

 They begin to reappear in the south about the 

 middle of September. They may generally be found 

 during winter in most situations where the alder 

 grows plentifully ; associating with the smaller 

 Linnet, and subsisting, like that species, on the 

 seeds of various trees, especially on those of the 

 alder and birch. They fly in flocks in successive 

 undulating courses, alternately rising and falling, 



