538 
THE STORY OF THE BIRDS. 
Common Siskin—The plumage of the male siskin is yellowish-green above, 
the rump bright yellow, the quills and back feathers blackish, edged with 
yellow, the chin is black, and the throat and breast bright yellow. It is found 
from Japan to the British Isles. Male birds are restless and lively, singing 
nearly all day. The nest is like that of a goldfinch. The American siskin is 
common in all parts of the United States and is generally known as the yel¬ 
low bird. Its eggs are white, with a rosy blush when first laid. 
Reed Bunting—The buntings are a species of finch. The reed bunting is 
found all over Europe where there are swamps. It nests among rushes and 
long grass. Its eggs are drab, streaked with black and dark purple. The 
general color of the male is reddish brown, with broad, black centers in the 
feathers of the back. The tail feathers are dark brown, the two outer ones 
edged with white; the crown of the head and sides of the face are entirely 
black; there is a broad band of white back of the neck; the throat is black; the 
under-parts white, streaked with black on the sides. There are rare speci¬ 
mens entirely white. 
Chaffinch—The most familiar member of the finch family is the chaffinch, 
found in all parts of Europe. Its plumage varies. In summer the male is 
usually a chestnut brown, with white wing-coverts, or black tipped with 
white, a black forehead, slaty-blue crown, chin and breast a pale wine red, 
and the lower parts white. The female is ashy brown, washed with olive 
yellow, the wings spotted with white. Species have been found of pure 
yellow with a tiny patch of pink feathers on the breast. The chaffinch varies 
its nest according to its surroundings and some of them are of remarkable 
construction. A remarkable nest found in Denmark was decorated all over 
the outside with small pieces of newspaper. The eggs of the chaffinch are 
generally purplish, gray in ground-color, washed with green, and blotched 
and spotted with dark red; but perfectly blue, unspotted eggs have been 
seen, although this variety is rare. 
Greenfinch—The grosbeak, group of finches is distinguished by short, 
stout beaks, and it is to this group that the greenfinch belongs. Green and 
yellow are the chief colors of its plumage. The male is olive yellow above, 
shaded with ashy gray; the under surface is yellow. The greenfinch is fond 
of building near the water and the young birds frequently tumble out of the 
nest and are drowned. The eggs are white, spotted with reddish brown and 
gray. The greenfinch inhabits Europe, northwestern Africa, Palestine, 
Turkestan, eastern Siberia, Japan and China. Like all the finch family it 
feeds principally on seeds. 
