PLATE CIV. 
The Aberduvine, or Sifkin. 
^^^^^^^^^ 
Of all granlvorous birds, fays BufFon, the Goldfinch is fuppofed to be the moft nearly allied to the 
Silkin- both have the bill elongated and Hender towards the point; are gentle, docile, and lively. 
Some naturalifts have confidered them as two proximate fpecies of the fame genus. With regard to 
oraanization, or inftina, the difference is ftriking. The Silkin has a fong peculiar to itlell, but inte- 
rior to that of the Goldfinch. It is fond of the feeds of the alder, which the other will not touch. 
It creeps along the branches, and fufpends itfelf at their extremities like the Tomtit ; io that it may 
be confidered an intermediate fpecies between this latter and the Goldfinch. It is alio a bird of 
pafi-age, and in its emigration flies very high ; it is heard before it is feen. The Goldfinch continues 
with us all the year, aHd never flies very high. It is alfo obferved, that thefe birds feldora or never 
aflbciate together voluntarily. The Sifkin may be taught to draw water like the Goldfinch. In 
an aviary it is always the firft to awake ; is harmlefs and unfufpicious. It is more eafily tamed than 
any other bird, when taken old ; and by focial treatment it may be domeft.cated like the Canary bird. 
The Siflcin is nice in the choice of its food, but eats plentifully, and enjoys itfelf much if fed to its 
likin<T In an aviary, it choofes a friend of its own fpecies ; if this cannot be, it feleds one from lome 
other" which it feeds like its young. It drinks frequently, but feldom bathes and then rarely goes 
into the water, but ftands on the rim of the veflll to dip its bill and breaft. It is.fa.d to build 
chiefly in mountain forefts ; its nefl is fo difficult to find, that it is a received opinion with the vu gar, 
that it has the art of rendering its nefl invifible by means of a ftone. Hence no precife account has been 
met with of the ftruaure, &c of its nefl. There is fo marked a fympathy between this foecies and 
the Canary bird, that if a cock Siflcin be put into a place with Canary birds, they '"^med'^tely and 
reciprocally exchange endearments. When a cock Siflun pairs with a hen Canary bird, he afliduoufly 
helps her to preparl the nefl, and feeds her while fitting. But from this alliance, it muff be con- 
fefSd, that the greateft part of their eggs are clear. A conformity of temperament as well as a 
union of difpofifion, being neceflkry forTecundation. The few mule birds which are the produce of 
this union, refemble both father and mother. i_ ■ .1, r 
In Germany, the migration of the Siflcins begin in Oaober, or even earlier; at that tme th y feed 
bn the feed of hops, to the great injury of the proprietors. The place they have ftopt in is well 
known by the quantity of leaves with w'hich the ground is ftrewed. They ifappear in the month 
of December, and return in February. In France they come at vintage time, and J^he" *e 
trees are in flower ; they are fondeft of the flowers of the apple-tree. They are fometimes feen on 
teTrpafl-r^ebR^^^^^^ at other times in very imall flocks. The great flights happen 
every thirfo"\S year, and then fo great is the multitude, that fome fuppole them to have been 
^'jtkVo'f rikin is not difagreeable, but is much inferior to that of the Goldfinch, whofe 
note it acquires with eafe ; it will alfo appropriate that of the Canary Bird or Linnet, if it hears them 
" TccoSnt^to Olina, this bird lives to the age of ten years. It is generally agreed, that among birds 
the femdes Tive longe; than the males. The gifldns are little fubjefct to difeafes, except to inflamma- 
tions of the inteftines, when they have been fed on hemp-feed. 
