. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . and the edges narrowly bordered with yellow: thetertials are black, edged with rust. The breast is rich ferru-ginous, which becomes lighter upon the rest of the underparts : the flanks are spotted with black. The iris is richhazel; the beak yellow at the base, and black at the tip :the legs and feet are dark flesh-coloured brown. In summerthe beak of the adult male becomes blue at the base, insteadof yellow; but there is very little difference in other respectsat this age, as the head is at all seasons black. In younger males, the fea
. Coloured illustrations of British birds, and their eggs . and the edges narrowly bordered with yellow: thetertials are black, edged with rust. The breast is rich ferru-ginous, which becomes lighter upon the rest of the underparts : the flanks are spotted with black. The iris is richhazel; the beak yellow at the base, and black at the tip :the legs and feet are dark flesh-coloured brown. In summerthe beak of the adult male becomes blue at the base, insteadof yellow; but there is very little difference in other respectsat this age, as the head is at all seasons black. In younger males, the feathers of the head and upperparts are in autumn very broadly edged with grey andrufous, almost obscuring the black centres. In the female, the same distribution of colours occurs;but her feathers are brown where those of the male areblack, and the rust-colour upon her breast is not so full. The upper figure in the plate represents the adult maleof this species, drawn from life : the lower is the female. The egg numbered 107, is that of the Mountain SISKIN. 93 INSESSORES. FRINGILLIDM. DENTIROSTRES. PLATE CVIII. SISKIN. Carduelis spinus. The Siskin is one of the smallest and liveliest of Britishbirds. It is always in motion, flitting from branch to branch,or hanging head downwards upon the ends of the bendingsprays in search of food. In a cage it is equally quickand restless, always climbing upon the wires, or sitting uponthe seed-basket, busily employed; or driving away withimpatient gestures and sharp pecks any of its little com-panions that endeavour to get their share of the newly-ar-rived food. These interesting little creatures are alsolively in their feelings, as well as in their actions, shewinggreat affection towards their mates, and, in a wild state, con-stantly associating together in families and flocks. Althoughclassed by systematic authors with the goldfinch, this specieshas, in its general manners, more resemblance to the redpole,with whom it often associate
Size: 1256px × 1989px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1840, bookidcoloured, booksubjectbirds
