2 
SISKIN. 
birch that, 1 have detected their nests. The light-coloured hoary lichens and pendent masses of Usnea barbata 
that droop from the limbs of the weeping birches in many of the northern glens afford ample concealment 
for the small and neatly constructed cradle. The nest has been stated to resemble that of the Goldfinch ; 
with the exception perhaps of size, I have noticed little similarity. The outer portion is fashioned with 
green moss held in position by fibres of roots and strands of grass, finer materials of the same description 
being used for the lining, in which I have also seen a few catkins of either the birch or alder together with 
a quantity of the seeds. To the best of my recollection, neither wool, hair, thistle-down, nor the flowers 
of the cotton-grass were employed in any nest I examined. The Siskin is reported to be an early breeder 
in the east of lloss-shire: I have seen fresh eggs so late as June 26th; it is, however, quite possible that 
this may have been a second laying. 
It is usually in the neighbourhood of water that these birds may be observed in winter, the alders 
growing in damp and swampy localities appearing to possess special attractions. A flock of some twenty 
or thirty, in company with as many Goldfinches, were watched for some time working their way through 
one of the plantations adjoining the Heigham Sounds in the east of Norfolk in the winter of 1881. 
Though the two species seldom intermixed, the Siskins busily searching the alder bushes, while the 
Goldfinches almost entirely confined their attention to the stunted and moss-grown oaks, each party 
closely followed the direction taken by the other while moving across the open spaces in the wood, and 
also on starting for a more lengthened flight to the next plantation. A few scattered birds are commonly 
to be seen in this part of Norfolk in autumn, winter, and early spring ; but large flocks are seldom noticed. 
In Sussex also I remarked their predilection for the neighbourhood of the small streams that run through 
the wooded portion of the country. 
In the spring of 1885, I was much amused at the eccentric behaviour of a cock Siskin confined in 
a ca^e with a female of the same species, both being exceedingly tame. Soon after the commencement 
of the breeding-season the male exhibited an intense dislike to the figure of a bird that he detected in 
a piece of looking-glass let into the side of his cage. Each time he arrived in front of the mirror, he 
attacked the supposed stranger with the greatest fury, though utterly unable to drive the intruder from 
his position. After trying all manner of schemes and working with the utmost activity, he was at 
last enabled, by inserting his beak below the edge, to dislodge the glass, which then fell from the cage 
to a table on which it stood. His attitude of defiance on each occasion, craning his neck to ascertain 
where bis adversary had gone, was ridiculous in the extreme. If the glass was returned to its position, 
be would repeat the performauce immediately, dislodging his enemy once or twice in a minute at least; 
indeed he was never at rest till it had disappeared and the intruder was removed from his sight. 
As a warning to those who keep these interesting little birds in confinement, I may state that the 
horsehair made up in bundles and sold by bird-fanciers as suitable to supply their wants when building 
is an exceedingly dangerous material to place in their way. A few weeks back on visiting a pair kept 
in a breeding-cage in one of the conservatories, we discovered the female in a deplorable condition, bound 
hard and fast by several horsehairs twined round the body, depriving her of the use of both legs and 
wings. The poor bird was lying utterly helpless on the floor of the cage, and had evidently been in 
this predicament for several hours, as when released she was almost incapable of moving, being only 
able to shuffle to the water placed in front of her, of which she seemed greatly in need. The male in his 
attempts to assist his mate had caught up and entangled three or four strands round his legs, hut was 
still able to make his way from one part of the cage to another, though somewhat cramped in his 
movements. The female did not entirely recover the use of her legs for some days, but, though completely 
exhausted at the time, she suffered from no irreparable injuries. 
