THE SISKIN. 
siskin may be advantaged by its adoption. Attached to the 
ends of my linnet cages are two small books. Then I have 
pieces of wood (stout cardboard will do nearly as well), which 
I hang on the hooks. The cage is thus made snug and com- 
fortable for the poor bird in very cold, windy weather, or when 
he happens to be poorly. Recollect how fond we are of creeping 
close to the fire when anything ails us. In consequence of our 
indisposition to bustle about, we are chilly and miserable. Pity 
poor little “ Dick,” then, and when he is not well try and make 
him as comfortable as possible, 
The siskin’s cage, however, should be larger than the linnet’s, 
he is altogether a more lively and vigorous bird, and requires 
more “ elbow room.” Let there be eighteen inches of space 
between the ends of his house, and ten inches from back to 
front. He will climb all round the top and sides of his cage, 
and hang swinging by one leg from the roof ; he will turn 
summersaults round his perch; indeed, altogether, he has a deal 
of the acrobat in his composition. If you give him the kernel 
of a Barcelona nut or an almond (he is particularly fond of 
almonds), he will stand on one leg, and, taking the dainty be- 
tween the toes of the other, nibble away, twittering gratefully 
all the while. Let his food and water vessels be suspended out- 
side the cage, and take care he is well supplied with coarse sand. 
By-the-bye, there is something I had nearly forgotten. The 
siskin rarely sleeps on his perch, he tucks his head behind 
his wing, stands on one leg, and grasps the bars of his cage 
with the other, so that of all birds he should be the least 
exposed to the attacks of rats, mice, or cats. 
How to Peed the Siskin. — He is a dreadful glutton. In 
one part of this book I think I lay down as a rule that two 
teaspoonfuls of seed is enough for the daily consumption of any 
one of the finch tribe. I should have said “ excepting the 
siskin.” Give him three spoonfuls, boys; don’t keep him short 
of victuals, or you will never get on together. It is the bad 
quality of having so large an appetite that makes him an 
objectionable companion in an aviary ; he will get into the seed- 
box, and stay there for hours, eating all the while, and abusing 
in the most scandalous way every bird who dares to remon- 
strate. Indeed, unless you happen to have a stout robin or an 
able-bodied chaffinch among the company, there will be con- 
tinual rioting. In the society, however, of either of the above- 
mentioned little pugilists the siskin is wonderfully civil. 
You may feed him on rape-seed (which, as his digestive 
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