BRITISH BIRDS. 
1 68 
die feathers black, with faint edges, the outer ones 
yellow, with black tips ; the legs pale brown ; 
claws white. 
We have given the figure and defcription from 
one which we have kept many years in a cage j its 
fong, though not fo loud as the Canary, is pleafing 
and fweetly various ; it imitates the notes of other 
birds, even to the chirping of the Sparrow : It is fa- 
miliar, docile, and chearful, and begins its fong ear- 
ly in the mornings. Like the Goldfinch, it may ea- 
fily be taught to draw up its little bucket with wa- 
ter and food. Its food confifts chiefly of feeds ; it 
drinks frequently, and feems fond of throwing wa- 
ter over its feathers. It breeds freely with the Ca- 
nary. When a Sifkin is paired with the hen Ca- 
nary, he is afliduous in his attention to his mate, 
carrying materials for the neft, and arranging them ; 
and, during the time of incubation, regularly fup- 
plying the female with food. Thefe birds are com- 
mon in various parts of Europe ; they are in moil 
places migratory, but do not feem to obferve any 
regular periods, as they are fome times feen in large 
and at other times in very fmall numbers. Buf- 
fon obferves that thofe immenfe flights happen on- 
ly once in the courfe of three or four years. It 
conceals its neft with fo much art, that it is ex- 
tremely difficult to difcover it. Kramer obferves, 
that in the forefts bordering on the Danube thou- 
fands of young Sifkins are frequently found, which 
have not dropt their firft feathers, and yet it 
