Chapter VII: Introduction (6)

In the house, to preserve them in health, their food should be
properly varied, giving them in turn oats, the crumb of white bread,
meat, bruised hemp seed, poppy and rape seed. When running about, the
second universal paste agrees very well with them. It is no doubt to
assist their digestion, that they often swallow fresh black earth, as
I have always seen those do that I have kept; this must not be
forgotten to be given them, nor water for them to bathe in, which
they enjoy very much.

BREEDING.--This species breeds twice in the year, the first time in
the end of March, or the beginning of April. The nest, which is
placed in a hedge, bush, tuft of grass, or even in moss on the
ground, is formed on the outside of straws, interwoven and lined
within with the hair of horses and other animals. It contains from
three to five eggs, of a dirty white, with zig-zag lines and spots of
brown. When reared from the nest the young ones may be taught to
imitate the song of the chaffinch, and a few notes of other birds.

DISEASES.--The disease most common to this bird is decline. The time
of moulting is very dangerous to them, as they suffer much, and
sometimes die; to render this period less dangerous, they should have
fresh ants' eggs as soon as it commences, a remedy most useful to
this species, to chaffinches, and to sparrows.

MODE OF TAKING.--The yellowhammer is easily taken in winter, near our
dwellings, either in a net, with a stalk of oats as a bait, or under
a basket or sieve, which may be thrown down, by drawing away the
small stick that supports it, by means of a string. They will also
enter the area or barn-floor trap, if a perching bird is fastened
there, by a string attached to the leather band round its body; in
spring they may be caught like other birds, by means of a bird-call.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The first of these is certainly the beauty of
the bird, but the fine yellow which sets it off fades gradually when
kept in the house, where it will live five or six years; the second
is its song, which, without being very distinguished, is rather
pleasing; its call, though not strong, is heard to some distance; but
this bird, so gay, so spruce, so active when free, becomes dull,
idle, and awkward in a cage.

THE CORN BUNTING.

Emberiza miliaria, LINNÆUS; Le Proyer, BUFFON; Der
Gerstenammer, BECHSTEIN.

This species, found throughout Europe and the north of Asia, has not so good a title to be admitted into the house as the preceding, not being distinguished either for its song or the beauty of its colours. With a plumage very similar to that of the sky-lark, it surpasses it in size, being seven inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures three. The beak, measuring six lines, is strong, yellowish on the under part in summer; the rest of the year the whole of it is grey brown; the feet the same, which stand six lines in height. The general tint of the plumage is pale, reddish grey on the upper part of the body, and yellowish white on the under, speckled like the lark's, with blackish brown spots.

In the female the colours are rather lighter.

HABITATION.--In its wild state this bird is common in most parts of
Europe; in the more northerly parts it does not remain during the
winter, and only appears at certain seasons; in March they are met
with amongst the larks in the fields, meadows, and on the high roads,
often perched on the tops of willows, or on a stake in a hedge, on a
milestone, or a clod of earth.

In a room it may occupy a lark's cage, but is more commonly let run
about at liberty.

FOOD.--Both at liberty and in confinement its food is similar to that
of the yellowhammer; it is however a more delicate bird.

BREEDING.--Its nest, placed under a bush, does not rest on the ground
but on the turf; it is constructed of the stalks of grass, and lined
with horse-hair. The eggs are grey, speckled with chestnut and
streaked with black.

MODE OF TAKING.--In autumn these birds may be taken in an area with a
decoy bird; in winter, before the barn door, with bird-lime or a
clapper; in the spring with a bird-call.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Their song, shorter and less soft than that of
the yellowhammer, has only four or five notes; from their dwelling on
the _r_ in the last, they have been given the name of _stocking
weavers_.

THE ORTOLAN.

Emberiza hortulena, LINNÆUS; L'Ortolan, BUFFON; Der
Gartenammer, BECHSTEIN.

It is necessary to give a very exact description of this species, as not only bird-catchers, but even some naturalists, give the name of Ortolan to several very different species. Under this name the former sell all rare birds of this kind. The true ortolan has a wider breast and stronger beak than the yellowhammer; it is six inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two and a half; the beak, six inches long, is thick at the base, with a bony tubercle at the palate, and is of a yellowish flesh-colour; the iris dark brown. The legs, which stand ten lines in height, are flesh-coloured; the head and neck is greyish olive; the throat and a streak on the neck from the angle of the beak, deep yellow.

The female is rather smaller, of a changeable shining ash-colour on its head and neck, streaked with fine black lines. Its breast, and the upper and under part of its body, are lighter than in the male.

The throat of the young male birds, before the first moulting, is of a light yellow, with a mixture of grey; the breast and belly are of a reddish yellow, speckled with grey, which make them rather resemble young yellowhammers. A bird fancier will distinguish the two sexes even in the nest. There are white, yellow, speckled, and in the house sometimes even black varieties.

HABITATION.--In its wild state the ortolan is principally found in the
southern and temperate parts of Europe, and is not scarce in some of
the provinces of Germany; but if attention were paid to them there,
they might be seen in every direction on their passage; for though
they may not remain during the summer in a district, yet they make
some stay, never passing over a great space of country at a time.
Their route is so exact and regular, that when one has been seen in a
particular spot, especially if in spring, it is sure to be found
there the following year at the same time. They fly rather in
families than flocks: the time of their arrival in Germany is towards
the end of April, or beginning of May; they are then met with in
orchards, amongst brambles or in groves, where they build,
particularly if millet is cultivated in the neighbourhood. During
harvest they frequent the fields in families, and leave after the
oats are gathered in[34].

In the house, if much valued, they are given a cage; but in countries
where they are common they are let run about free.

FOOD.--In their wild state they live on insects and grain. In the
house they are fed, if in a cage, on millet, hemp seed, and prepared
oats; if at liberty in a room the universal paste suits them very
well. These birds, being rather delicate, cannot often be preserved
beyond three or four years.

DISEASES.--The most common disease of these birds is atrophy, to cure
or prevent which it is necessary to know how properly to mix and vary
animal with vegetable food; but this calls for a greater degree of
attention and care than most persons are willing to give.

MANNER OF TAKING.--In spring these birds are easily attracted to a
decoy bush, by a female of their own species, or a yellowhammer. In
August a turfy place should be chosen near brambles, to form a small
area, as a decoy, like that made for chaffinches. It must be
surrounded with a low hedge, with some oat-ears fastened to it. About
the area should be placed one or several birds of call, especially a
perching bird, that is to say, a bird of the same species, with a
band of soft leather round it, and confined by a small string,
fastened to a peg-stick in the ground, which prevents its going
beyond the prescribed limits. Here it should be given plenty of food
and water, in order that the birds to be caught may be the more
easily attracted within the area, from seeing one of their own
species in a place of abundance. This kind of decoy bird is often
more necessary than any other.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The fine form and colours of the ortolan would
be sufficient to render it desirable, but still more so its
flute-like warbling, so clear and full, which has some resemblance
to that of the yellowhammer, only that the last notes are much
deeper.

Ever since ortolans have been known to epicures as a delicacy, they
have been fattened with great care. The common way is to keep them in
a room only lighted by lanterns, so that they cannot distinguish day
from night: they are then plentifully fed on oats, millet, and the
crumb of white bread, made up with good spice. In a short time they
become so fat that they would be suffocated if not killed at once. An
ortolan thus fed is a perfect ball of most delicious fat, weighing
about three ounces.

THE CIRL-BUNTING, LATH.

Emberiza Cirlus, LINNÆUS; Le Zizi, ou Bruant de Haie, BUFFON;
Der Zaunammer, BECHSTEIN.

Linnæus has described only the female, and by mistake I have called the male _Emberizal Eæathorax_, and have given a drawing of it and the female, in the second volume of my German translation of the English work of Latham, Synopsis of Birds, printed at Nuremberg, 1794.

DESCRIPTION.--This bird, scarce in many provinces of Germany and in
Britain, but well known in Thuringia, is about the size of the
yellowhammer, being five inches and a half in length, of which the
tail measures two and a half. Its small and flattish beak is of a
brownish blue on the upper part, and light brown on the under; the
feet, eight lines in height, are flesh-coloured; the upper part of
the head and neck olive green with small black strokes, a golden
yellow streak extends from the angle of the upper mandible to the
middle of the neck, passing under the eyes; another begins from the
angle of the under mandible, and descending in a straight line, is
crossed by a third, which is black, then curving round behind the
yellow streak under the eyes, reunites with the black one on the
throat; the back and smaller wing-coverts are cinnamon brown, mixed
with black and yellow green; the rump is olive, with black streaks;
the breast is a fine olive green, light chestnut on the sides; the
rest of the under part of the body is of a golden yellow.

The female is known by its plumage being much paler: the head and
upper part of the neck are olive, much streaked with black; the back
is pale brown, the rump more streaked with black, the tail rather
greyish black than black; two pale yellow lines pass one above the
other below the eyes, and cross a black line which unites to the
black border of the cheeks; the throat is brownish, with a lighter
spot below; the breast is olive, with the sides brownish, the rest of
the under part of the body is pale yellow.

The young ones, before their first moulting, have the upper part of
the body light brown, speckled with black, the under pale yellow
streaked with black; the older they grow the more of an olive tint
the breast acquires.

HABITATION.--In their wild state these birds dwell chiefly in the
southern and temperate parts of Europe, where they frequent orchards,
groves, and the skirts of forests.[35] They are birds of passage,
which leave in November and return in April; they are then met with
very commonly among the chaffinches.

In the house they must be treated in the same manner as the ortolan.

FOOD.--In their wild state they feed on the cabbage caterpillar in
summer, and when corn is ripe, on wheat, barley, millet, oats, and
other grain.

BREEDING.--They place their nest in a hedge or bush on the road side,
and build it of small straws and line it with horse-hair. The eggs
are greyish, speckled with chestnut. In the end of July, whole
families are met with in the fields, particularly those planted with
cabbages, and that have willows in the neighbourhood.

DISEASES AND MODE OF TAKING.--These are similar to what is said under
ortolan.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The male surpasses the ortolan in beauty, but
does not equal it in its song, as in this it more resembles the
yellowhammer.

These birds, however, are very easily tamed, and may be preserved
five or six years.

THE FOOLISH BUNTING.

Emberiza Cia, LINNÆUS; Le Bruant Fou, BUFFON; Der Zipammer,
BECHSTEIN.

This bird is rather smaller than the yellowhammer, being only six inches long, of which the tail measures two and a half; the beak, five lines in length, is very sharp, blackish above, and greyish below; the iris is dusky; the legs, nine lines in height, are of a brownish flesh-colour. The head is grey, spotted with red, with small black streaks on the top, and an indistinct black line on the sides; the back is reddish brown, speckled with black, the rump light red brown; the throat pale ash-colour.

The female differs very little from the male: the head is grey with a reddish tint and black spots; she has also all the streaks that the male has, but less marked; the ash-coloured throat is streaked with black and has a reddish tint; in short, the whole of the under part of the body is lighter.

HABITATION.--When wild, this species, which loves solitude, and
prefers mountainous districts, inhabits the south of France, Italy,
and the south of Austria. In some winters they quit these countries
and proceed even to the middle of Germany, where they are found in
March and April in elevated situations.

In the house they are either kept in a cage or left to range a room,
and the latter seems to agree with them best, particularly if they
have a grated and quiet place to rest in and pass the night.

FOOD.--When wild, these birds, like others of the genus, feed on
insects and grain.

In the house they may be fed on the same food as the ortolan, on
which they may be preserved in health above six years, as I have
proved by a pair which I kept myself for that time.

MODE OF TAKING.--These birds come without difficulty at the call of
the yellowhammer, and enter into every kind of snare so heedlessly,
that they have thence been given the name of _foolish bunting_.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--They are very fine and lively birds, whose
voice is heard the whole year; in winter their note of call, and from
spring to autumn, their cheerful song, shorter indeed, but clearer
than that of the yellowhammer. They live very amicably in a room with
other species of their genus, especially the yellowhammer; and where
one goes the other follows, and if one chooses any particular food,
the other prefers the same.

THE BLACK BONNET, OR REED BUNTING.

Emberiza Schoeniclus, LINNÆUS; L'Ortolan de Roscaux, BUFFON;
Rohrammer, BECHSTEIN.

This bird is nearly the size of the mountain sparrow, its length being five inches three-quarters, of which the tail measures two and a half; the beak, four lines in length, is black on the upper part, and whitish on the under; the iris is dark brown; the legs, nine lines high, are dark flesh-coloured. The head is black, with reddish spots; a reddish white line extends from the base of the lower mandible quite round the head; the back is black, spotted with white and red, the rump alternately grey and reddish yellow; the throat is black spotted.

The feathers on the head of the male never return to as good a black after moulting, when in the house, as in its wild state, but remain always browner, and clouded with reddish white.

The head of the female is of a rusty brown, spotted with black; her brown cheeks are encircled with a reddish white streak, which, passing above the eyes, unites with another which commences at the base of the beak; a dark streak passes down the sides of the throat, which, with the under part of the body, is reddish white, much streaked on the breast with light brown; the colour of the back is lighter, but less clear than that of the male.

HABITATION.--In their wild state this species is found throughout
Europe and the north of Asia, flying in small flocks, and returning
in March in great flights. The females follow the males, and do not
remain behind, as some pretend. During winter some of these birds are
met with here and there amongst the yellowhammers; they frequent
moist places, the banks of ponds and rivers; they run nimbly up the
stalks of aquatic plants, but rarely ascend trees.

In the house it is the custom here to let them range a room; but they
may be kept in a cage.

FOOD.--When wild they feed on the seeds of rushes, bullrushes, reeds,
and grasses, as well as on the numerous insects that frequent the
water-side.

In the house they seem to relish the first universal paste and poppy
seeds, on which food they will live five or six years; but afterwards
they droop and die of atrophy or scurf, as I have remarked several
times.

BREEDING.--These birds make their nests among the reeds and brambles
on the water-side. They lay five or six eggs of a dusky light grey,
with dark grey spots and dusky lines rather indistinctly mingled.

MODE OF TAKING.--In autumn they enter the area or decoy with the
chaffinch; in spring, when there is snow, they approach the barns and
dunghills, and there, as well as in open places in the fields and on
the hedges, they are very easily taken with a net or bird-lime.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Their song is alternately weak and strong.
Three or four simple tones, mingled from time to time with a sharp
_r_, distinguish it from every other; it is heard all the summer,
even during the night. Of all the buntings, this is the most easily
tamed; it is also a great amateur of music, approaching the
instrument without fear, as I have observed several times, not of
one only, but of many of these birds, testifying its joy by extending
its wings and tail like a fan, and shaking them so that, by this
exercise the feathers have been much injured. The female sings also,
but its tones are weaker than those of the male.

THE SPARROW BUNTING.

Emberiza passerina, LINNÆUS; L'Ortolan Passerin; Der
Sperlingsammer, BECHSTEIN.

This species must have been confounded with the preceding, or it would have been better known, as it is not rare either in autumn or spring. It is smaller and more slender than the former, being only five inches long, of which the tail measures two and a quarter; the beak is black above and light brown below; the iris is of a dark chestnut; the feet are nine lines in height and of a dusky flesh-colour; but the plumage in general is similar to that of the female of the preceding species.

The male has the top of the head red, with a grey longitudinal streak in the middle, and many black spots arising from the deeper shade of the feathers which appears in every direction; a dusky reddish white line passes from the nostrils above, and also a little under the eyes, and widening behind on the temples, a chestnut brown colour breaks through a deep black, which reaches the sides of the neck and becomes a spot there.

The colours of the female are in general lighter, and the black does not appear on the top of the head; a reddish white streak passes above the eyes, another descends from the base of the beak down the sides of the neck, a third, but of a dusky black, extends from each side of the chin to beyond the middle of the neck.

When kept in the house the black disappears from the head of the male, and the upper part of the neck becomes greyish white, spotted longitudinally with dusky black.

OBSERVATIONS.--Thick woods and bushes in a mountainous country are the
favourite haunts of the sparrow bunting. It is a bird of passage,
which quits us in October or November and returns in April. It is not
rare in Thuringia, particularly at the time of passage; formerly it
was only known in Russia. Its food, when wild, is insects and all
kinds of grain.

In the house, it is fed on the same food as the reed bunting, which
it very much resembles in its song and habits: it is taken in the
same manner.

THE WHIDAH BUNTING.

Emberiza paradisea, LINNÆUS; La Veuve à collier d'or, BUFFON;
Der Paradiesammer, BECHSTEIN.

This beautiful and rare species is the size of a linnet. Reckoning from the beak to the end of the side tail-feathers, it is five inches and a half in length. The beak is lead-coloured; the iris chestnut; the feet are flesh-coloured; the head, chin, front of the neck, back, wings, and tail are black; the back of the neck pale orange; the breast, thighs, and upper part of the belly are white, the lower part is black; the two intermediate tail-feathers measure four inches, are very broad, and terminate in a long filament; the two that follow, above three inches long, are very broad in the middle, narrower and pointed at the end, from their shaft springs also a filament more than an inch long; the other side feathers are only two inches and a half in length; the two in the middle amongst the longest a little diverging, and arched like a cock's, are glossy, and more brilliant than the others.

The female is entirely brown, almost black, and does not acquire its proper plumage until the third year; whilst young it very much resembles the winter plumage of the male.

This bird moults twice in the year. At the first, which takes place in November, the male loses its long tail for six months, its head is streaked with black and white, the rest of its plumage is a mixture of black and red; at the second, which takes place late in the spring, it resumes its summer dress, such as it has been described above, but the tail-feathers do not attain their full length till July and drop in November.

OBSERVATIONS.--This beautiful species comes from Angola, and other
parts of Africa, and is particularly common in the kingdom of Whidah,
or Juida, in Guinea, and hence it takes its name. Though it was
formerly brought in great numbers into Germany, it still costs there
thirty or forty rix dollars. These birds are very lively, and
constantly in motion, always waving their long tail up and down,
often arranging their feathers and amusing themselves with bathing.
Their feeble song, though somewhat melancholy, is however very
agreeable. They may be preserved from eight to twelve years if fed on
canary seed, millet, barley meal, and the like, not forgetting to add
from time to time lettuce, endive, or other green food. They must be
given a large cage, to prevent their spoiling their fine tail.

THE DOMINICAN BUNTING.

Emberiza serena, LINNÆUS; La Veuve Dominicaine, BUFFON; Der
Dominikanerammer, BECHSTEIN.

This species, six inches and three quarters in length, is smaller, more rare, and nearly twice as dear as the preceding. It comes from Africa likewise. The beak is red; the feet grey; the upper part of the head is black, but the top is reddish white, which extends over the whole of the under part of the body, the chin, and temples, and even the under part of the tail; sometimes this tint fades into pure white: the upper part of the neck and the back are black, but the feathers are edged with dusky white; the inner wing coverts being white, give the wings the appearance of being so when folded, but they are black, the quill-feathers alone are edged with white; the tail is also black; the two middle feathers terminate in a point, and are two inches longer than the others, which gradually diminish in length the farther they are from the middle, the three first only have the points white, but the two outer ones have the beard white and the edge pale orange.

The female is entirely brown, and the tail-feathers are of equal length. This species also moults twice in the year: the male loses its tail for six months, and the white of its plumage becomes less pure.

OBSERVATIONS.--This bird requires the same treatment as the former,
and sings in the same very agreeable manner.

THE SHAFT-TAILED BUNTING.

Emberiza regia, LINNÆUS; La Veuve à quatre brins, BUFFON; Der
Königsammer, BECHSTEIN.

This is also more rare than the Whidah bunting. Its length to the end of the short feathers of the tail is nearly four inches and a half. The beak and feet are red; the upper part of the body black; the sides of the head, the eyes, neck, and under part of the body are orange.

The female is brown, and has no long feathers in the tail. The winter plumage of the male is grey, like the linnet, but rather brighter.

OBSERVATIONS.--This bird comes from Africa, and is not less admired
than the preceding.

THE INDIGO BIRD.

Emberiza cyanea, LINNÆUS; Fringilla cyanea, WILSON; La Veuve
bleue, or le Ministre, BUFFON; Der Indigo Ammer, BECHSTEIN.

The length of this bird is five inches. The beak dark lead-coloured; the feet brown; the whole plumage is of the most beautiful blue, deeper and still more brilliant at the top of the head; the great quill-feathers are brown edged with blue; the tail brown, with a pale tint.

The female very much resembles the linnet in its colour, as the male does during moulting, for it is only blue when in full feather; but the male may be distinguished easily at all times by the sides of the wings being of a lighter grey than in the female.

OBSERVATIONS.--This species is most commonly found in Carolina, but is
not rare about New York, where it arrives the beginning of April. It
frequents the orchards when they are in bloom, and appears to prefer
mountainous parts. Its agreeable song, which very much resembles that
of the linnet, and the beauty of its plumage, render it a favourite
with bird-fanciers. Its food is canary seed, millet, poppy seed, and
bruised hemp seed.

THE PAINTED BUNTING.

Emberiza Ciris, LINNÆUS; Le Pape, BUFFON; Der gemahlte Ammer,
BECHSTEIN.

This bird owes its name to its plumage. It is five inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak is greyish brown, the iris nut brown; the feet brown; the head and neck are violet, the circle round the eyes is red; the upper part of the back and the scapulars are yellowish green, the lower part, the rump, and all the under part of the body are of a fine red; the lesser wing-coverts violet brown with a red tinge, the greater of a dull green; the pen-feathers brown, some bordered with grey, others with red; the tail-feathers are also brown, but the two middle ones are of a changeable red, and the outer border of the others is of the same colour.

The upper part of the body of the female is of a dull green, the under part yellow green; her pen-feathers are brown edged with green, as are also the tail-feathers.

As the plumage of this bird does not come to perfection before the third year, there must naturally be several varieties. During the first year the male and female are of the same colour; the head of the male does not become a violet blue till the second year, and the rest of its plumage is then a blue green, as are also the edges of the quill and tail-feathers, which are elsewhere brown.

The female at this time is of a fine changeable blue. If to these differences arising from age are added the two moultings which take place every year, we shall not be surprised rarely to meet with two birds alike. There is besides another variety, having the under part of the body yellowish, except a red spot on the breast; and again another, which in the time of moulting is entirely white.

OBSERVATIONS.--These birds are found from the frontiers of Canada to
Guiana and Brazil; none, however, are seen in Carolina less than one
hundred and thirty miles from the sea. They only show themselves in
summer, and build principally on orange or similar trees. English and
Dutch sailors take home many of these birds, and it has been said
that in England they have succeeded in making them breed in aviaries
in gardens, spacious enough to contain orange trees, on which they
have constructed their nests. When in a cage they are fed on millet,
canary-seed, endive, and poppy-seed, on which they may be preserved
from eight to ten years. Their song is soft and agreeable.

THE CHAFFINCH.

Fringilla Coelebs, LINNÆUS; Le Pinson commun, BUFFON; Der
Buch-Fink, BECHSTEIN.

This delightful songster of spring, famed for the sprightliness of its warbling,--this favourite of most of our bird-fanciers, is so generally known that I should be tempted to suppress its description if the uniformity of this work and the wish to render it complete, did not impel me to give it. This will also offer some particulars worthy the attention of the naturalist.

The passion for this bird is carried to such an extent in Thuringia, and those which sing well are sought for with so much activity that scarcely a single chaffinch that warbles tolerably can be found throughout the province. As soon as one arrives from a neighbouring country whose notes appear good, all the bird-catchers are after it, and do not give up the pursuit till they have taken it. This is the reason why the chaffinches in this province are so indifferent songsters: the young ones have only bad masters in the old ones, and they in their turn cannot prove better.

This bird is six inches and one-third in length, of which the tail measures two and three quarters. The beak is conical, pointed, and white in winter; but as soon as spring, the season of pairing and song, arrives, and till the time of moulting, it is of a deep blue, and one may know by this whether it has sung or not. The iris is chestnut brown; the legs, nine lines high, are dusky; the claws are very sharp, and grow so fast in a cage that it is necessary to cut them every six weeks, if you do not wish to see the poor bird some day caught by them, and perish miserably unless rescued. The forehead is black, the top of the head and nape of the neck are greyish blue, in very old males deep blue, and then thick downy hairs are perceived.

After moulting, at the beginning of winter, the colours become lighter, the front of the head is only deep brown; the top and the nape of the neck a changeable greyish and olive brown; the red brown of the breast is brighter; this is also the plumage of the young ones in the second year, particularly if of the last brood; they are called grey-heads, by bird-catchers, who can easily distinguish, in the spring, the young from the old males, and very much prefer them, because, if properly caught, they may be taught to improve their song when confined in the house; while the others never learn, or change very little, at least rarely, the song they have acquired in their wild state.

The female is very different, being smaller, while the head, neck, and upper part of the back are greyish brown, and all the under part of the body is a dusky white, rather reddish grey on the breast; and the beak, greyish brown in spring, becomes greyish white in winter.

There are some remarkable varieties of this species, one quite white, another with a white collar, a third streaked, spotted, &c. There is no distinction between the wood chaffinches and those of the gardens and orchards, as has been alleged.

HABITATION.--In its wild state, the chaffinch frequents forests,
copses, and orchards, and ought to be reckoned among birds of
passage, though there are always some that remain the winter with us.
The time of passage, in autumn, continues from the beginning of
October to the middle of November, and in spring during the month of
March. These birds perform their journey in large flocks. In the
spring the males arrive in separate flights, fifteen days before the
females; our bird-catchers know this so well, that as soon as they
perceive these they put up their implements, their sport being then
over.

In the house, though each may vary the form of the cage to his taste,
the best, in my opinion, is an oblong cage nine inches long, seven in
depth, and seven in height, with the food and water at the two
farthest sides, and the perches placed opposite. A bell-shaped cage
does not suit the chaffinch, as it prefers jumping down in front, and
swinging itself round, to remaining at the top. If there are several
in one room they must be placed so as not to see each other, or their
song will be injured. Those only are allowed to range whose song is
very inferior, and must be provided with a grated place to retire to,
or some branches to perch on. These never sing so well as those in
cages, their song appearing to require the greatest attention, and
hence there should be nothing to distract them.

FOOD.--When wild, their food in spring is all sorts of insects, which
they carry to their young in their beaks; later in the season they
eat various kinds of seeds, pine and fir seeds, when they inhabit
forests that contain them, linseed, oats, rape, cabbage, and lettuce,
which they know well how to procure and shell.

In the house they are fed all the year on rape seed, dried in summer,
or, which is better, soaked and swelled in water, on which food they
appear to thrive. Every day a sufficient quantity should be soaked
for the next, and given them fresh every morning. In the spring they
are allowed a little hemp-seed, or the seed of the nettle-hemp
(_Galeopsis Tetrahit_), to excite their song, and this plant is
therefore very much prized in Thuringia; but these seeds should not
be mixed with the rape, as in trying to find them they soon scatter
their food; it is best to put it in a separate drawer fastened to the
iron wires of the cage, between which it may be slipped. It must not
be omitted to supply them with green vegetables, chickweed, lettuce,
and the like; and in winter a piece of apple, meal-worms, and ants'
eggs agree with them. They must have fresh water regularly every day,
both to drink and bathe in.

Those that range the room live on the different sorts of food they
meet with, bread, meat, and all sorts of seeds.

BREEDING.--The nest of the chaffinch is one of the most beautiful of
birds' nests, and formed in the most skilful manner. It is the shape
of a half globe flattened on the upper part, and so perfectly rounded
that it has the appearance of having been turned on a lathe.
Cobwebs[36] and wool fasten it to the branch, bits of moss with small
twigs entwined form the ground-work; the lining is composed of
feathers, thistle-down, the hair of horses and other animals, whilst
the outer covering is formed of the different lichens that grow on
the tree in which it is placed, the whole firmly united and well
cemented. This outer finish is no doubt intended to deceive an
enemy's eye; in fact, it is very difficult, even with great
attention, to distinguish the nest from the bark of the branch on
which it is fixed.

The female has two broods in the year; she lays from three to five
eggs, of a pale bluish grey, spotted and streaked with brown: the
first brood (and this is confirmed in general by observations of
other birds) rarely produces any but males, the second only females.
Bird-fanciers can distinguish the one from the other before they
leave the nest; the breast of the male already discovering a reddish
tint, the circle round the eyes being yellower, the wings blacker,
and the lines that cross them whiter, though in other respects it
resembles its mother. If you wish to be quite sure, pluck some
feathers from the breast of the bird you have taken from the nest, in
a fortnight they will be replaced, and the presence or absence of red
will infallibly decide whether it is male or female. As soon as the
tail-feathers begin to appear they must be taken from the nest, to
prevent the possibility of their ear being injured by hearing an
imperfect song, for scarcely are the wings and tail half grown than
these birds begin to warble, and to imitate the song of those around
them.

They must be fed on rape seed soaked in water and the crumb of white
bread; it is very easy to rear them and preserve them healthy till
the time of moulting, but then numbers perish, particularly if not
quickly relieved by being given meal-worms and ants' eggs, or any
other animal food, as bread boiled in or soaked in boiled milk.

Chaffinches that have been reared with care become very familiar, and
sing at command, or when one approaches their cage in a friendly
manner. If they are wished to learn quickly and accurately, they
should be kept in an obscure corner of the room, and only hung up at
the windows in May; this is the surest way to prevent their learning
any thing imperfect. By these means chaffinches that have been taken
full grown have forgotten their former song and adopted a better. The
whole artifice consists in keeping the bird in such retirement as
will remove everything that might distract it when listening to a
fine songster, and take away the wish to sing itself.

There have been examples of chaffinches pairing with female canaries,
and it has been said with a female yellowhammer. The distinction
between wood and garden chaffinches is unfounded, at least as to
species; the eggs of both are of the same whitish pink colour.

DISEASES.--The disorders to which the chaffinch is most subject are
the obstruction of the rump gland[37] and diarrhoea. To cure this
an old nail or a little saffron should be put in the water.

When the scales on the feet become too large, the upper ones must be
cut skilfully with a sharp knife, or else the bird would either lose
the use of his limbs or become gouty; but this operation must be
performed with great care.

Blindness also is not uncommon, particularly where they are fed much
on hemp seed. This does not, however, injure their song, and as it
comes on gradually, it does not prevent their finding their food and
hopping about the perches. By means of proper care a chaffinch may be
preserved twenty years.

MODE OF TAKING.--With good baits the chaffinch may easily be drawn
within the area or decoy from Michaelmas to Martinmas, and in spring
throughout March. Those that remain the winter, or return early in
the year, may be taken in a net baited with oats.

Bird-catchers use in spring lures and lime twigs, and the sport lasts
as long as the time of flight, which begins at daybreak and ends at
nine o'clock. These birds employ the rest of the day in seeking food
in the fields, in resting, and singing. In the same manner are taken
linnets, goldfinches, siskins, yellowhammers, and bullfinches.

Some make use of the excessive jealousy of the males to procure those
whose song is very superior. As soon as a bird-catcher who likes this
way discovers a fine songster wild, he immediately seeks another male
that is in the habit of often repeating its natural cry, _fink,
fink_, ties his wings, and fastens to his tail a little forked stick,
half a finger long, well covered with bird-lime; thus prepared, he
fastens him under the tree on which the one he is watching is
perched; this no sooner sees and hears the false rival than he
becomes enraged, pounces on him like a bird of prey, and is caught
with the bird-lime; his attack is often so violent that sometimes the
bird of call is killed by the stroke of its adversary. The following
is a surer method:--a soft, narrow leather band is fastened round a
male, to which is attached a string a foot long, fastened by a peg,
which allows it but a short space to range. This bird, as we have
already said, is called, in bird-catchers' language, a percher. A
circle of bird-lime is made just beyond its reach, and a cage with a
chaffinch, accustomed to sing either in the shade or exposed, is
placed under a neighbouring bush; as soon as this last begins his
song, which should be a natural one, not any learned in confinement,
the chaffinch that is to be procured darts from the tree like an
arrow on the percher, which it mistakes for the songster, and remains
fixed by the bird-lime. This new prisoner will sing the same year if
it is caught before Whitsuntide: if after, it will never sing, but
will die, evidently from grief at being separated from its female and
young ones. A bird-catcher, cruel as he is stupid, who, without the
least reflection, only thinks of gratifying his ridiculous passion
for bird-catching, may in an hour deprive ten or twelve females of
their beloved companions, their protectors, and numerous young ones
of their father, purveyor, and support: such thoughtless cruelty is,
alas! only too common in Germany. As soon as the young chaffinches
have left the nest, the bird-catchers are very active in discovering
the places where at noon they are accustomed to drink; there they set
perches covered with bird-lime, and by this means many of these little
unwary creatures are taken. However little memory one of these birds
may have, it is capable of learning a good song, and being more
robust than those brought up from the nest, bird-dealers make a good
deal of them. They collect a great many, being sure that some will
succeed amongst them.

ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The first of these is undoubtedly the song of
the bird; but our amateurs are not less attentive to the different
notes that express its passions and wants. The note of tenderness,
and which is also thought to indicate a change of weather, is _trif,
trif_: its call, or the rallying note it makes use of on its passage,
and which so often draws it within the snares of our bird-catchers, is
_ïak, ïak_, repeated several times; the cry _fink, fink_, which it
often repeats, and from which its German name is derived, appears, if
we may so call it, to be mechanical and involuntary. But what makes
it appear to still more advantage among other birds are its clear and
trilling tones, that seem almost to approach to words; in fact, its
warbling is less a song than a kind of _battement_, to make use of a
French word, and is expressed in German by the word _schlag_ (trill),
which is used to designate its song as well as the nightingale's.
Some chaffinches have two, three, four, and even five different
_battemens_, each consisting of several strains, and lasting several
minutes. This bird is so great a favourite in Germany, that not a
single tone of its voice has escaped the experienced ears of our
bird-fanciers. They have observed its nicest shades, and are
continually endeavouring to improve and perfect it. I confess I am
myself one of its warmest admirers; I have constantly around me the
best songsters of its species, and if I liked I could write a good
sized volume on all the details of its music, but I will confine
myself to that which bears most on this subject.

The song of the chaffinch bearing an evident relation to articulate
sounds, its has been thought to distinguish its different variations
by the final syllable of the last strain. The most admired in
Thuringia are the following, which I shall give in their order, and
in their different degrees of superiority.[38]

1. _The Double Trill of the Hartz_ in Lower Saxony is composed of six
strains, rather long, the last of which is ended by dwelling on the
two final syllables, which I shall express here by the word
"_weingeh_[39]." I doubt if ever a bird in its wild state has
executed this so perfectly as I heard it at Ruhl[40] and at my own
house. Art has certainly created it. It is with difficulty that a
chaffinch attains it, if, with the best abilities, it has not been
instructed from its earliest youth. Rarely can it give it complete
without leaving any part out. On this account a high price must be
given for the little prodigy that sings it through, full, entire, and
in all its strength.

2. _The Reiterzong_, or rider's pull, first heard among the mineral
mountains of Saxony and Voigtland, has been known but a short time in
Thuringia. It may be heard from a chaffinch in its wild state, but
those that have been instructed execute it in a fuller, stronger, and
less precipitate manner. This song consists of four strains, the
first of which commences in a high key, and gradually descends. When
in perfection there is a cadenced pause before the two last
syllables, which articulate tolerably clearly _reitzing_ with a _zap_
or clapping, as our amateurs express it. An amateur who has never
heard the double trill of the Hartz would not believe that a
chaffinch could sing in a superior manner to this; however, in this,
as in many other things, each has his taste.

3. _The Wine Song_ is divided into four kinds, 1. the fine, or
Längsfeld wine song[41], is very beautiful, but little known except
in two or three places in Thuringia. It is composed of four strains,
and to be perfect ought to resemble a hautboy, the two last syllables
articulating "_weingeh_." This song has never been heard from a wild
chaffinch, but is one accidentally produced in the house, and
endeavoured to be propagated by education.

2. The bad wine song is not in itself disagreeable, but it is so
named when compared with the former. It is composed of three strains,
of which the penultimate ought to sound _zap_ five times, and the two
last syllables articulate "_weingeh_." When once a wild chaffinch has
been heard to utter this in Germany it is not long ere it is caught.
3. The sharp wine song is not ended by "_weingeh_," but "_weingieh_."
It is subdivided into the common sharp, such as is sometimes heard in
the woods, and the Ruhl sharp, which is an entirely artificial song,
confined to Ruhl and a few other villages of Thuringia. It has but
two strains, of which the first syllables ought to sound as though
flowing into each other, and the penultimate to have an accent.

4. _The Bräutigam_, or bridegroom song, is also divided into good and
bad: the good is only heard in the house, and consists of two simple
strains; it begins _piano_, afterwards _forte_, and, continuing
_crescendo_, ends in the most brilliant sound. After the double trill
of the Hartz it appears to my ear the finest of all. The bad is
occasionally heard in the woods, and is composed of three strains;
but though not devoid of sweetness, does not please so much as the
former.

5. _The Double Trill_ is formed of two long strains, divided by a
cadenced pause, which is named the shake. They distinguish, 1. the
common, subdivided into four; _a_, the strong, _b_, the clear, _c_,
the long, and _d_, the short. These are heard sometimes in the woods
and orchards; but chaffinches that sing _a_ or _b_ soon become the
prey of our bird-catchers. 2. The double trill of Iambach[42]; this
is only to be acquired in the house, and is so deep and powerful that
one can scarcely conceive how the larynx of so small a bird can
produce such sounds. It begins _piano_, and swelling its tones
successively in _crescendo_, makes of the _trilling_ a strain of five
piercing tones, afterwards repeats "_pfaff_" four or five times, and
ends by dwelling on "_Rüdidia_." A chaffinch that possesses this
song, either alone, or united with the good bridegroom's song, such
as are educated in Iambach, sells here for eighteen French francs.

6. _The Gutjahr_, or good year song, is so named from the two last
syllables, and is also divided, 1. into the common, that has but two
strains, of which the second ought to roll five times before
articulating "_gutjahr_." It is not uncommon in our woods. 2. The
good year of the Hartz, which has been acquired in the house, and
consists of two very singular strains, in my opinion not very
agreeable. Chaffinches are very rare now which sing this, united to
that of the wine song of Ruhl, or the sharp song, and their price is
consequently high. They are rarely found but at Ersenach and Ruhl.

7. _The Quakia song_ is so called from its last syllables, and is
double or single, one with one strain, the other with two. This song
was formerly very much admired. It was heard in the woods and house,
but it is now lost, as all the wild chaffinches that sung it have
been taken, and those in confinement have been taught in preference
the good wine song: I believe I possess the only bird that is now to
be found which sings this. To be admired, the quakia must be united
with the double trill. This my chaffinch sings also.

8. _The Pithia_ or _Trewethia_, is a very uncommon and agreeable
song, which is never heard but in the depths of the Thuringian
mountains. The bird-catchers of the villages about the forests of
Hesse seek for birds that possess it, and actively pursue the
songsters. It is first a sonorous strain, followed by several
repetitions of the word "_zack_." Some birds unite to it the common
sharp wine song, and are more valued. The last syllables ought to
sound "_trewididæ_."

These eight varieties, or rather melodies, are those most thought of
in Saxony and Hesse. I have said that some of them are heard in the
woods; but it is very rarely that they are sung with so clear and
strong a voice, or that they are so long and perfect. A chaffinch
that knows only one of these varieties generally sings it slowly, and
introduces a greater number of syllables. Its voice, in fact,
executes it with more strength and depth; if it adds to the last
strain the sound "_fink_," which our bird-catchers translate by
_amen_, it is of the highest value, no price will be taken for it.

There are a dozen varieties in all; but as they are not uncommon, and
what are everywhere heard, they are less admired; they have even been
given in contempt the name of _plain_.

One thing worth remarking is that the song of the chaffinch varies
almost as much as the countries it inhabits. It is not the same in
Thuringia as in the Hartz, and the taste of amateurs differs
equally[43]. In Austria several named melodies are admired, but I
have never heard them.

The chaffinch has so great a facility in learning, that it not only
imitates perfectly the song of another chaffinch near which it has
been placed from youth, but being hung near a nightingale or canary
it learns several parts of their songs, and would no doubt give them
completely if its larynx were so formed that it could render notes so
long and sustained; in fine, a great difference in memory is observed
in these birds, as well as in all others of the singing species. Some
require six months to learn an air that others catch on first
hearing, and can repeat almost immediately; these can scarcely retain
one of the songs given above; those can imitate three, four, and,
should you wish it, five different ones. There are also some that
cannot give one song without a fault, and we find others that will
add to it, perfect it, and embellish it.