SISKIN. 
279 
tioned by Mr Gardiner, in the Camperdown 
Woods, near Dundee,* the nest was not more 
than six feet from the ground ; Mr Meyer again 
states, that the nest has been twice found near 
Combe Wood, in furze, within three feet of the 
ground.f From all our present knowledge ot 
the nidification of the Siskin, it would appear 
that the places selected were almost as local and 
uncertain as the times of its appearance in winter, 
and it is probable that the greater portion of the 
very large flocks which we sometimes see, per- 
form a more extended migration northward, and 
that those partially met with breeding are the 
stragglers on the southern boundary of their 
range. Their particular habits and their food 
at this period are still desiderata to the British 
ornithologist. In winter, where we have observed 
them, their manners have been very similar to 
those of the Goldfinch, frequenting pastures or 
districts where tall syngenesious plants abounded, 
feeding also on the catkins of several trees, and 
apparently, Mr Selby remarks, attracted by the 
abundance of the birch and alder. We have 
also seen them picking out the kernels from 
beech mast, and frequenting a spot on account 
of the supply afforded. On the Continent it is 
known, but somewhat partially in the middle 
countries ; we are not sure that very authentic 
accounts exist of its frequency or nidification in 
the north, as has been generally supposed, and, 
* Loudon’s Magazine. 
t Yanell, British Birds, i. p. 497. 
i 
