Loxia chloris, LINNÆUS; Le Verdier, BUFFON; Der Grünling,
BECHSTEIN.
This bird is rather larger than the chaffinch, being six inches in
length, of which the tail measures two and a half; the beak five lines
in length. The iris is dark brown; the shanks are eight inches in
height, and of a bluish flesh colour. The prevailing colour of the
plumage is yellowish green, lighter on the lower part of the body, still
more so on the rump and breast, and shading to white on the belly.
The female, which is smaller, is still more distinguished by the
greenish brown of the upper part, and the ash-colour rather than
yellowish green of the lower part of the body; she has besides some
yellow spots on the breast, and the whole belly is rather white than
yellow.
Sportsmen and bird-catchers mention three kinds of green birds, namely,
the large, which is everywhere of a beautiful yellow; the middle sized,
the under part of the body of which is light yellow; and the little,
which they say is rather greenish than yellow; but all this variety
depends upon the different ages of the bird, as well as its strength,
and more or less beautiful tints of its plumage. What much more deserves
to be remarked is the mule, which is the offspring of a green bird, and
a female canary; it has a strong body; its colours are green and grey,
mixed with yellow, when the female canary is yellow; but it is always a
bad singer.
HABITATION.--When wild, the green bird may be found over all Europe,
though not often far north. It may be seen during summer, in hedges,
and on the borders of woods, and always where there are several trees
near together; during winter it wanders into different provinces, in
large and numerous flocks; but in March it begins to return from
these journeys.
In the house it may either be let range free, or be shut up in an
aviary with other birds, where it is always very peaceable as long as
it has sufficient food; but when that fails, it perches itself on the
general food-drawer, and keeps it determinedly, pecking it with its
beak so cleverly that no other bird can approach: should one venture,
it is soon obliged to go away or lose its feathers; otherwise this
bird is as quiet and tame in the house as it is wild and active when
at liberty.
FOOD.--In its wild state it seems to like all kinds of seed, even that
of the milk thistle, which all other birds dislike.
In the house, when it ranges at will, the second universal paste so
well agrees with it that it becomes quite fat; however, as a variety,
rape and hemp seed may be thrown to it; if in a cage it must only be
fed in summer with rape seed, except a little hemp seed, which may be
given after moulting, to make it sing. Lettuce, chickweed and other
green food, always agree with it, and even the berries of the juniper
tree.
BREEDING.--Its nest, which is almost always placed in a hedge, on a
large branch near the trunk of a tree, or on the top of an old
willow-tree, is firmly built with wool, moss, and lichen, and lined
with very fine roots and bristles. The female lays, twice a year,
four or five pointed eggs, of a silver hue, spotted with light violet
or brown. The young are at first of a greenish grey; some yellow
tints, however, may already be seen in the male. When reared from the
nest, it learns, though with difficulty, to imitate the different
songs of house-birds; and, as it almost always happens with slow
memories, having once learnt a thing it never forgets it. It also
sings through the whole year; it should therefore be taught by a bird
whose song is agreeable, for instance, a chaffinch, and then one
would have the pleasure of hearing it without interruption through
all the seasons.
DISEASES.--The constitution of the green bird being very strong and
healthy, it is rarely subject to disease. It may be kept in good
health for twelve years.
MODE OF TAKING.--If the decoy bird be a good one, the green bird may
be easily caught in the area or barn-floor trap, even in December. In
the spring it may be taken with bird-lime on the lure-bush, when a
linnet will do for the songstress. In order to make it eat soon, a
little crushed hemp seed should be thrown in the bottom of its cage.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Without being handsome its song is not
disagreeable; it may also be taught to repeat words; but its greatest
merit is the wonderful ease with which it is tamed, equalling, and
even surpassing the bullfinch in this particular. It may not only be
accustomed to go and return again, but also to build in a room near
an orchard, or in a summer-house in the garden. The following are the
means which must be taken to make it do this:---
After having taken the young from the nest they must be put in a
cage, and placed at the foot of the tree in which this nest is built,
in a place dug for the purpose, and on the cage a tit as a decoy.
When left there, the old birds come to feed their young, and are
caught in the snare. As soon as they are taken, they must all be
brought into the house, where the old and young must be put together
in any aviary, or large cage, till the latter can fly; the window may
then be opened for them to go out, but hunger will soon bring them
back. As soon as they have exercised their wings, the old birds
should be placed on the table in the window to call them back. In
time, they become so familiar that they will accompany one in a walk,
and there is no fear of their flying away. If they are not taken
thus, it is necessary to wait for winter and snow to let them go out,
and if they profit by the permission, to call them back by some of
their species placed in a cage in the window. If you wish to be quite
sure of success, you have only to put a board in the window, on which
two females with their wings cut, can run about, go out, and return.
The green bird likes to build near canaries, and as these are good
nurses, they are given the eggs of the green bird, which, like the
goldfinches and siskins, learns to draw up its water and food.