INSESSORES.
CONIROSTRES.
TH E SISKIN.
FRITS! G IL L ID Æ.
Fringilla spinus, The Siskin, P enn. Brit. Zool. vol. i. p. 450.
, , 77 „ Mont. Suppl, to Ornith. Diet.
77 77 ,, B ewick, Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 197.
7 7 7 7 ,, F eem. Brit. An. p. 85.
Carduelis ,, ,, S eeby, Brit. Ornith. vol. i. p. 309.
Fringilla ,, ,, J enyns, Brit. Vert. p. 137.
Carduelis ,, ,, Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. vii.
Fringilla ,, Gros-bec tarin, T emm. Man. d’Ornith. vol. i.
T he S iskin, or Aberdevine, as it is also called, is a visiter
to this country, arriving in flocks from the North in autumn,
and comes generally in company with the Lesser Redpole,
to be hereafter described, many of which also pass the summer
in high northern latitudes. The Siskin appears to be
much more plentiful in the North than with us in the South ;
and there seems to be no doubt that some, perhaps many,
pairs remain and breed annually in or about the fir-woods
and plantations of the northern counties of England and
Scotland, some recorded instances of which will be referred
to. Although greatly reduced in numbers before these flocks
arrive in the southern counties, the Siskin is not uncommon
from September to April, and is most frequently seen
in small flocks, sometimes by themselves, but more frequently
in company with Linnets and Redpoles, twittering
almost incessantly as they fly, apparently for the purpose of
keeping them together, while they search the alder, birch,
and larch for seeds as food; their voice also very much resembling
that of the Lesser Redpole.
Although this bird has been known to breed in three or
four different localities in the northern parts of this island;
and has been seen during the breeding-season in others; it
is seldom found south in the summer, or after the month
of April, about which time it departs for the North ; and I
have only heard of two instances of its remaining to breed
near London. Mr. Meyer informs me that the, Siskin has
built twice in furze, about three feet from the ground, near
Coombe Wood ; the eggs were taken in both instances ;
they were hatched by Canaries, and some of the young were
reared, so that no doubt remained of the species. With
care, and some attention to their particular wants, the Siskin
has bred in confinement with several persons; and these birds
are in some request with London bird-catchers, who pair the
Siskin with a Canary, and by that means obtain a bird whose
song, unlike that of most Canaries, is not too loud for a
room.
In Surrey, Sussex, Dorsetshire, and Devonshire, this bird
is seen more or less frequently from Michaelmas to April,
in Cornwall it is more rare ; but Mr. Couch, in his Cornish
Fauna, mentions having had a young specimen of the year
brought alive to him on the 81st of October, 1885. Mr.
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