8 
Nesting of the Blaclc -headed Sislcin. 
out that the conspicuous nestling-plumage was in this 
way made still more conspicuous. I have several times had 
cause to ask myself whether the nest -feathering is always, or 
ever- in the majority of cases, intended by TS^ature to be 
protective. 
All would i)roliably have gone well with the .young 
Siskin in his new quarters had his owner not gone off at 
a tangent in quest of that long-sought remedy, a cure for red 
mite. Obviously no messy liquids, such as paraffin or solu- 
tions of creosote are of any use for applying to nests or 
nestlings, and powders do not seem to destroy this scourge 
of aviculture in its earlier stages of development. What is 
wanted is a liquid, very strong and very A-olati!e, which can be 
applied quickly and removed quickly and comj)letely. At last 
we hit 01; the right idea but the long! series of experiments 
claimed two victims of that brood and one, I regret to tay, 
was the youthful Siskin. I do not mention the remedy partly 
because I think that we lose half the interest of our liobby 
if we do not find a way out of difficulties for ourselves, and 
partly because, if our members can be persuaded to experiment 
on theii- own behalf, they will probably happen on something 
much better. 
Thus of our erstwhile happy family only Ihe founder 
was left, and he was moulting and grieving for the loss of 
his mate, and seemed likely to follow her into the land of 
shadows. However, I pointed out to him what a stupid little 
thing she was and how peevish, and cheered him up by 
promising to ransack the Matrimonial Agencies for an altogether 
superioi type of feminine who would lend a hand in bringing 
up th(! bairns and never administer a curtain lecture, so he 
was ultimately consoled, and throughout the long winter used 
to sing in the hot aviary every day and all day long. 
The song of this species is not melodious but very 
bright and acceptable as it is heard in every month of the 
year; it is sustained but very hurried, and gives one the 
impression that the singer is trying to squeeze as many notes 
as possible into the bar. 
I found an unhatched egg in the nest, which proved 
on examination to be lightly freckled with reddish spots and 
I have since seen another of the same type ; it may be re- 
