SISKIN. 
79 
tion and the enclosure of what are termed waste lands than the Groldfinch.” 
Mr. Macaulay writes : — “ Owing to birdcatchers in the past, this bird is now 
somewhat scarce.” Elkington told me (1885) that he received it in small 
numbers in the autumn, from birdcatchers, from the vicinity of Leicester. 
Mr. Davenport writes: — “On December 1st, 1887, there were a lot of 
these birds feeding and singing, or rather pleasingly twittering, in Staunton 
Wood. I never saw so many together before.” Mr. Gr. H. Storer writes : — 
“ On 2nd August, 1888, we disturbed about a dozen, feeding among thistles 
in a field at John Ball’s Fox Cover, at Arnesby.” 
Mr. Ingram writes that it “ builds in apple-trees ; two or three pairs 
generally in the garden.” Mr. T. B. Ellis, of the Gynsills, writes : — “ In 
one or two apple-orchards I know it builds regularly.” Mr. J. S. Ellis tells 
me that up to 1863, when he left Glenfield Lodge, there was a nest or 
two to be found every year in the orchard, and always built in a fork at 
the top of an apple-tree. 
In Eutland. — Resident, but sparingly distributed. — The Earl of Gains- 
borough informs me that it breeds about Exton, and at Luffenham. 
SISKIN. Chrysomitris spinus (Linnseus). 
“ Aberdevine.” 
An uncommon winter visitant, not breeding in the Midlands. — Mr. 
Babington mentioned it (Appendix ‘ Potter,’ p. 67), as having been observed 
in flocks at Thringstone and Eothley Temple, among alders, during 1837. 
Harley once fell in with a vast company of Siskins (some 400 or 500), in 
the northern division of the county, among large alder-trees beside a stream 
at the lower end of Oakley Wood. In the autumn of 1849 the species was 
frequently met with, but has not appeared since in such numbers in any part 
of the county. Mr. Macaulay notes (‘Mid. Nat.,’ 1883, p. 86) that he saw 
a flock of about twenty in a lane near Gumley, on 15th Nov., 1882. 
One in the Museum, taken at Thurcaston in 1881, was presented by Mr. J, 
Ponsford, who kept it in a cage until it died in July, 1883. Two (male and 
female), taken at Kirby Muxloe, were purchased from Elkington in the 
flesh on 11th Dec., 1885. Three (two males and one female) were shot 
and forwarded from Belvoir on 14th Jan., 1886, together with some branches 
of the hemlock-spruce, and Mr. Ingram wrote : — “ I have recently been much 
interested in watching the operations of a little company of Siskins, which 
have found a store of food (very welcome to them, I imagine, during the 
late severe weather) in the cones of the hemlock-spruce (Abies canadensis), 
which are now hanging in great profusion on this handsome tree. These 
lively little birds resemble some of the Titmice in the quick uncertainty of 
their movements, darting hither and thither amongst the branches of the 
