S I S K I N .
birch thai I haw detected their nests. The light-col on m l hoary lichens and pendent nuieni of Umm Imrhmtm
that droop from the limits ol" Ihe weeping birches in many of the northern glens afford ample concealment
for the small and neatly constructed cradle. The nest has been stated to resemble that of the Goldfinch ;
with the exception perhaps of sire, I have noticed little similarity. The outer portion is fashioned with
green nio-s held in position by fibres of roots and strands of grass, liner materials of the same description
being need for the lining, in which I have also seen a few catkins of either the birth or alder together with
a quantity of the seeds. To the best of my recollection, neither wool, hair, thistle-down, nor the flowers
of the cotlon-gmss were employed in any nest I evamincd. The Siskin is reported to he an early breeder
in the east of lloss-shirc : 1 have seen fresh eggs so late as June 20th; it is, however, quite possible that
this may have been a second laying.
It is usually in the neigh hour hood of water that these birds may be observed in winter, the alders
growing in damp anil swampy localities appearing to possess special attractions. A Huck of some twenty
or thirty, in company with as many Goldfinches, were watched for some time working their way through
one of the plantations adjoining the Heigham Sounds in the east of Norfolk in the winter of 1881.
Though the two species seldom intermixed, the Siskins busily searching the alder bushes, while the
Goldfinches almost entirely confined their attention to the stunted and moss-grown oaks, each party
closely followed the direction taken by the other while moving across the open spaces in the wood, and
also on starting for a more lengthened flight to the next plantation. A few scattered birds are commonly
to lie seen in this part of Norfolk in autumn, winter, and early spring; but largo Hocks an- seldom noticed,
in Sussex also I remarked their predilection for the neighbourhood of the small streams that run through
the wooded portion of the country.
I n the spring of ltssfi, I was much amused at the eccentric behaviour of a cock Siskin confined in
a cage with a female of the same species, both being exceedingly tame. Soon after the commencement
of the breeding-season the male exhibited an intense dislike to the figure of a bird that he detected in
a piece of looking-glass let into the side of bis cage. Lack time he arrived in front of the mirror, ho
attacked the supposed stranger with the greatest fury, though utterly unable to drive the intruder from
bis position. After trying all manner of schemes and working with the utmost activity, he was at
last enabled, b>' inserting his beak below the edge, to dislodge the glass, which then fell from the cage
to a table on which it stood. His attitude of defiance on each occasion, craning his neck to ascertain
where his adversary had gone, was ridiculous in the extreme. If the glass was returned to its position,
he would repent the performance immediately, dislodging his enemy once or twice in a minute at least ;
indeed he was never at rest till it bad disappeared and the intruder was removed from his sight.
As a warning to those who keep these interesting little birds in confinement, I may state that the
horsehair made up in bundles and sold by bird-fanciers as suitable to supply their wauls when building
is an exceedingly dangerous material to place in their way. A few weeks hack on visiting a pair kept
in n hrceding-cage in one of the conservatories, we discovered the female in a deplorable condition, bound
hard and fast by several horsehairs twined round the body, depriving her of the use of both legs and
wings. The poor bird was lying utterly helpless on the floor of the cage, and had evidently been in
this predicament for several hours, as when ndcased she was almost incapable of moving, being only
able to shuffle to the water placed in front of her, of which she seemed greatly in need. The male in his
attempts to assist his mate bad caught up and entangled three or four strands round his lege, hut was
still able to make his way from one part of the cage to another, though somewhat crunqied in his
movements. The female did not entirely recover the use of her legs for some days, but, though completely
exhausted at the lime, she suffered from no irreparable injuries.
L I N N E T .
L1NOTA CJNNJBINJ
Tuts species has been described by more than one author as of common occurrence in the Western Islands
of Scotland; I have no wish to dispute this assertion, though compelled lo state that but few, if any,
came under my observation in those inhospitable region-. In Last Lothian these birds were far from
uncommon; I have failed, however, lately to meet with any of the immense breediog-colooies formerly so
frequently seen in the southern counties of England.
The Red-breasted Linnet appears at the present time far less abundant than in my bird-nesting days
some thirty years ago. Improvements in agriculture, such as the breaking up of waste lands and the
wild furze-covered stretches of sloping bill-sides, together with the persecution they annually suffer from
the nets or the bird-catchers, have kept on gradually reducing their numbers, till in some parts of the
country they have become almost rare birds. Large flocks of Linnets are, however, still seen ia the
early part of the winter on the downs and along tlie coast-line mar Brighton; I find that the average
take for one pair of nets of a morning during the flight-time is between thirty and fifty dozen. The
bens are killed at once by their captors; the males, perhaps less fortunate, being sent to London to
supply the strange demand for cage-birds so common in some parts of the slums.
I t is usually in October that the large flights of Linnets appear on the south coast; I find in my
notes for 1SS2, under date of October 13th (weather line with a breeze from the north-cast|, that immense
numbers of these birds wero passing along in an easterly direction, Larks and Swallows also following
the same course. The next season the largest flights were seen on the 9th of the month, when tho
greater number appeared to be making their way towards tho west. During winter, Linnets often join
in large flocks with Twites and frequent the sailings along the river Adur between Shoreham and
Bmmber in Sussex. I have also seen the two species associated about the pools of brackish water
near the shore at Lancing; tho numberless seed-bearing plants that flourish among the patches of rank
moist grass and also oa the slopes of the shingle-hanks probably prove the attraction to tho spot. At
times this barren stretch is alive with small birds, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Pipits, Linnets, and Twites
rising singly or in scattered parties at almost every step one takes along the sea-wall.
When heavy falls of snow and cold blasts of wind from north-north-west have brought the clouds
of Larks and other small birds to seek shelter in the southern and western counties, I have frequently
remarked numbers of Linnets making their way along the downs towards tho west. On such occasions,
should the frost be severe, this species appears much affected by the weather, seldom flying far, but settling
from time to time and pecking about for food under the shelter of banks or furze bushes; after a
continuation of excessive cold for any length of time, when the snow lies deep and seeds are covered,
they soon exhibit signs of distress and not unfrequciitlj perish in large numbers.
I am aware that scientific naturalists assert that this species visits our shores in considerable numbers