CHAPTER XII. 



The Siskin. 



Fringilla spinus, Lin. ; Tarin, Buf. 



Description and Character. — The Siskin, or Aberdevine, 

 as it is sometimes designated, is well known in most Euro- 

 pean countries, but is not so plentiful in our Island as it is 

 on the Continent. It is a vivacious and agreeable bird, 

 easily tamed, and of a sociable disposition. It is not strik- 

 ingly handsome, neither is it by any means despicable in 

 appearance. The great charm of the Siskin is its coyness 

 after it has become domesticated, and its apparent readiness 

 to adapt itself to any exigency. 



The Siskin is from 4iin. to oin. in length ; the tail 

 measures 1 jin. ; the bill is conical in form, but very sharp 

 at the point, and is pale whitish brown, with a dark brown 

 tip. On the top of the head is an elliptic black cap ; in 

 autumn, just after moulting, it is not so dark, and is fringed 

 with brown ; the upper part of the throat, surrounding the 

 front of the under mandible, is black also. The neck and 

 back are pale olive green, pervaded with canary yellow ; the 

 feathers of the back are intermixed with black, forming 

 small black marks. The rump is yellowish green. The 

 under part of the neck and breast are of a beautiful 

 shade of green, strongly tinctured with bright yellow ; a 

 stripe of yellow crosses the eye, and runs to the back part 

 of the head. The belly and vent are whitish yellow, the 

 sides of each being tinged with pale indefinite green, inter- 

 mixed with dark green spots, bordering on black. The pen 



