Identifier: illustratedbooko00blak (find matches)
Title: The illustrated book of canaries and cage-birds, British and foreign
Year: 1878 (1870s)
Authors: Blakston, W. A Swaysland, W Wiener, August F
Subjects: Canaries Cage birds
Publisher: London New York : Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co.
Contributing Library: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Ernst Mayr Library

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yellow instead of brown, andthe whole plumage is darker. The sex is distinguishable by the male having a red rump. Thisbird is more often found in the north, only visiting the southern counties of England in the autumnand winter. It has a very pleasant song, though not so elaborate as the Linnets, and its name isderived from its peculiar call-note. It should be fed and treated as recommended for the Linnet. The Siskin is a very beautiful little bird of diminutive size, but prettily-marked plumage,as may be seen depicted in the Plate. Its beauty is especially displayed when seen flittingamongst the branches of the alder trees, feeding upon the seeds, and keeping up a continualtwitter the while. It is very docile, and may be soon taught the accomplishments of the Gold-finch. Though Siskins have not much song, and that occasionally interspersed with harsh,jarring notes, yet they are continually twittering, and being lively, hopping from perch to perch, Cassells Canaries &.Cage Biros.
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Vincent Broofcj Day &Son Lilh I. SISKIN.2, VV A X W I N G . 3, REDPOLL.4-. CROSSBILL. Finches and Sparrows. . 329 they are very pretty additions to an aviary, where also their twittering may induce the morefavoured songsters to sing. If reared from the nest they may be taught the songs of other birds,but can never be taught to pipe a tune. The Siskin should be fed upon canary-seed, flax, maw-seed, and oat-grits, adding a littlehemp-seed, of which the bird is very fond. This may also be used as a reward whilst teaching ittricks. It becomes exceedingly tame in confinement, taking food readily from the hand. It willalso breed, and should then be provided with an old Goldfinch or Chaffinch nest, or the usualnest-bag ; the young may be reared upon the food recommended for young Goldfinches. TheSiskin will also mate with the Canary, and the young of this cross make very nice and handsomecage-birds. The Common or Lesser Redpoll (as may be seen upon reference to the Plate) is a verypretty

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