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The Black-throalcd Siskin. 45
outer \¥eb; cheeks and bodj' below pale grey, slightly greenish on the throat;
abdomen and under tail coverts whitish. Length 4,'i, inches.
Mr. W. H. Hudson says that this Siskin "is extremely common throughout
the entire length of the Argentine country from Brazil to Patagonia. In the
Buenos-Ayrean district it probabty has a partial migration, as small flocks are seen
to arrive in Spring, but further south, in Patagonia, it appears to be strictl}'
resident. In settled districts they are always more abundant than in the woods,
and they have a special predilection for poplar groves, and always prefer a poplar
to build in. They go in small flocks, seldom more than about a dozen birds
together, have a rapid, undulating flight, feed chiefly on the ground, like most
Finches, and also frequently alight in the seeding-tiuie on plants like the lettuce
and Sanchus asper (a common -weed) and, clinging to the stem, dexterouslj' pick
off the seed, scattering the down about them in a little cloud. They are very
tuneful, restless, quick in their motions, apparently always in a light-hearted merry
mood. Being niucli admired for their song, they are often kept in cages; and
áertainh", for cheerfulness and constancy in singing, they take the foremost place
amongst the Finches; but there is little expression in the song, which is composed
of a variety of short twittering notes, uttered with great rapidity, as the bird sits
perched on a twig or undulates from tree to tree. Usually the notes flow in a
continuous stream, but occasionally the bird sings in a different manner, making
a pause of two or three seconds of silence after every eight or ten short notes.
When the female is on the nest the male sometimes perches near her amongst the
leaves and sings sotto voce, apparently for her pleasure only, the notes being so low
that, at a distance of ten j^ards, they can scarcely be heard."
"The nest is usually placed between the angle formed by a small branch and
the bole of the tree, and is a deep, -well-made structure composed of many materials,
and lined Avith horse-hair, down, or feathers. The eggs are five, very small for the
bird, pure white, and so frail that it is not easy to take them from the nest without
breaking them."
"While engaged in building, the birds constantly utter a low, soft trilling note;
and when the nest is approached they break out into long, somewhat reedy notes,
resembling those of the Canar}-, expressive of alarm or curiosity."
My bird was fed, on the journey to England, on canar}--, German rape, flax,
and hemp. In my opinion, if thistle and teazel could have been substituted for
the flax, and less hemp given; there would have been a better chance of its retaining
Its health: it is also evident, from Mr. Hudson's account, that lettuce would be a
good additional seed to give.
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