[Illustration]
Fringilla cannabina, LINNÆUS; La Linotte, BUFFON; Der Lanning,
BECHSTEIN.
The length of this well-known bird is more than five inches, of which
the tail measures two inches and a half. The beak, six lines long, is
dusky blue in summer, and in winter greyish white, with the point brown;
the iris dark brown; the feet, eight lines high, are black. There are
some very striking varieties produced by the season and age in the
plumage of the male, which are not observed in the female, and these
have caused great confusion in works on birds, so much, that
bird-catchers are still persuaded these birds, in a different dress, are
distinct species.
Instructed by long experience and the observations of many years, I hope
to show in my description that our common linnet (_Fringilla Linota_,
Linnæus), the greater redpole (_Fringilla cannabina_, Linnæus), and,
according to all appearance, the mountain linnet (_Fringilla montana_,
Linnæus), are one and the same species. A male three years old or less,
is distinguished in spring by the following colours, and by the name of
redpole. The forehead is blood red, the rest of the head reddish
ash-coloured, the top rather spotted with black; the cheek, sides of the
neck, and the circle round the eyes, have a reddish white tint; the
feathers of the back are chestnut with the edges lighter; the upper
tail-coverts are black edged with reddish white; the throat and under
part of the neck are yellowish white, with some dashes of reddish grey;
the sides of the breast are blood red edged with reddish white, the
sides of the belly are pale rust-coloured; the rest of the under part of
the body is reddish white; the greater wing coverts are black, bordered
with reddish white, the others are rusty brown with a lighter border.
The quill-feathers are black tipped with white, the first are edged with
white nearly to the point, the narrow beard forms a parallel white
streak to the quill-feathers; the tail is black and forked, the four
outer feathers on both sides have a broad white border, that of the two
middle feathers is narrower, and reddish white.
After moulting, in autumn, little red is seen on the forehead, because
the feathers become coloured from the bottom to the top; the breast has
not yet acquired its red tint, for the white border is still too wide;
but when winter comes its colours appear.
Males one year old have no red on the head, and more dashes of black;
the breast is pale red waved with pale and dark, the under part of the
feathers on the breast is only a bright reddish grey brown, the edges of
these feathers are of a reddish white; the back rust-colour has some
detached spots of dark brown and reddish white. These birds are known
under the name of grey linnets.
After the second moulting, if the reddish grey feathers are blown aside,
blood red specks may be discovered on the forehead, and the red of the
breast is only hidden by the wide yellowish white borders to the
feathers; these are the yellow linnets, or the rock linnets, as they are
called in Thuringia.
I have myself taken linnets whose foreheads and breasts have been bright
reddish yellow instead of blood red, a colour, in fact, that sometimes,
in the house, becomes blood red. Bird-catchers give these also the name
of yellow linnets. It is a deterioration of the red caused by illness
during moulting, or by old age, and they are not wrong in regarding them
as the best and the finest singers. I have taken several, but on
account of their scarcity, I have always kept them for myself. Their
song was very fine and clear, but they cannot be tamed, and have
generally died soon of sorrow and melancholy, from which I conclude that
they were very old.
Besides these three different varieties of plumage of the males, there
are several clouded, produced by the seasons and old age; for instance,
the older they become, the redder the head is. I have in my cabinet all
the gradations of this change. Birds brought up in the house never
acquire the fine red on the forehead and breast, but remain grey like
the males of one year old; on the other hand, old ones, red when brought
into the house, lose their beautiful colours at the first moulting, and
remaining grey like the young ones, are no more than grey linnets.
This difference of colour does not take place in the females, which are
smaller than the males; the upper part of the body is grey streaked with
dusky brown and yellowish white, on the rump with greyish brown and
reddish white; these spots are more numerous on the breast; the
wing-coverts are a dusky chestnut. The females are distinguished in the
nest by the back being more grey than brown, and by the number of
streaks on the breast, which resembles that of the lark; bird-fanciers
leave these in the nest and take only the males.
HABITATION.--In its wild state the linnets are spread throughout
Europe. In the summer they frequent the skirts of large forests,
thickets, hedges, and bushes, particularly furze; but as soon as
September arrives, they pass in large flights to the fields. They are
wandering birds, that in winter go hither and thither seeking food in
places free from snow, but in March they return to their native
places.
In confinement it is best to keep them in square cages, as they are
less subject to giddiness in these than in round ones, and sing
better. They are not often allowed to range the room, as they are
very indolent, remaining immoveable in the same place, and running
the risk of being trodden on; but if a small tree or a roost be
placed in a corner, they may be let out of the cage with safety, as
they will remain perched there, only leaving it to eat or drink, and
will sing all day long.
FOOD.--When wild, their food is all kinds of seeds that they can
shell, and these remain in the crop some time to be moistened before
passing into the stomach. In the house, it is only summer rape
seed,[45] which need not be soaked in water for them, as for the
chaffinch, since, having a much stronger crop and stomach, they can
digest much better. It is not necessary always to give them hemp seed
with it, and they must not be fed abundantly, for taking little
exercise, they easily become fat, and sometimes die from this cause;
but a little salt mixed with their food is useful, as it preserves
them from many diseases, and they like it. When linnets are allowed
to run about, they will feed with the other birds on the common
universal paste; but they must be given green vegetables, water, and
sand, as they are very fond of bathing and dusting themselves.
BREEDING.--Linnets have two broods in the year. They lay from four to
six eggs for each, of a bluish white, speckled with reddish brown,
especially at the large end. Their nest placed in a hedge, a white or
black-thorn, or, if in a country where they are common, on a vine, or
a furze bush, is composed of small twigs, dried grass and moss, and
lined with wool, the hair of horses, and other animals. The parent
birds feed their young ones from their beaks, and do not discontinue
it if prisoners in the same cage. If the young ones are to be taught
a new song, they must be taken from the nest when the shafts of the
feathers are just appearing, that they may have no idea of their
parents' song. The males may be easily distinguished by their white
collar, and from having the most white about the wings and tail.
DISEASES.--The most common disorders of this species are constipation,
atrophy, and epilepsy. A linnet, however, will, in general, live from
ten to twelve years in the house.
MODE OF TAKING.--These birds are distrustful and suspicious, and,
notwithstanding decoys and perching birds, it is very difficult to
entice them within the decoy or area, and never many together. In the
spring, by means of a good decoy-bird, a few may be taken on a
decoy-bush. In the autumn, by fastening snares or lime twigs to the
stalks of lettuces, of the seeds of which the linnets are very fond,
several may be taken. Our shepherds turn and support the cribs, used
to feed the sheep from, in such a manner, that the linnets, coming to
gather the grains of salt, easily overturn them on themselves. The
call of the linnet is "_gäcker_."
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The agreeable, brilliant, and flute-like song
of the linnet, consists of several strains, succeeding each other
very harmoniously. Our amateurs consider its beauty to depend on
there being often mingled with it some acute and sonorous tones, that
a little resemble the crowing of a cock, and have made people say
that this bird _crows_. Its song is only interrupted during the year
by moulting. A young one taken from the nest, which may be easily
brought up on a mixture of the wetted crumb of white bread, soaked
rape seed, and eggs boiled hard, not only learns the songs of
different birds that it hears in the room, such as nightingales,
larks, and chaffinches, but if kept by itself, airs and melodies that
are whistled to it, and will even learn to repeat some words. Of all
house birds, this, from the softness and flute-like sound of its
voice, gives the airs that it is taught in the neatest and most
agreeable manner. It is also one of those that pay best; some here
cost from three to five rix-dollars when they can warble an air
preceded and followed by a grand flourish as of trumpets. The weavers
and shoemakers often bring up many of these birds. It is very
pleasing and surprising to hear a young linnet that is well taught by
a nightingale. I have one, whose imitations are as perfect as
possible. It amuses me throughout the year, but especially when my
nightingales are silent.
Linnets may be accustomed to go and come at command, by treating them
in their youth, or in the winter, as I have directed for the
house-sparrow; but as they are more timid, it is necessary to be more
careful.
It is common for a male linnet to pair with a hen canary, and their
progeny can scarcely be distinguished from the grey canary. They sing
delightfully, and learn different airs with great facility.
It is well known, that among linnets, some are finer warblers than
others, and that, as with many other birds, the old ones sing better
than the young; on which account, yellow linnets, being the oldest,
are the most valued.