[Illustration]
Fringilla Carduelis, LINNÆUS; Le Chardonneret, BUFFON; Der
Distelfink, BECHSTEIN.
"Beauty of plumage," says Buffon, "softness of voice, quickness of
instinct, remarkable cleverness, proved docility, tender affection, are
all united in this delightful little bird; and if it were rare, or if it
came from a foreign country, it would then be valued as it deserves." It
is five inches and three quarters in length, of which the tail measures
two. The beak, five lines long, very pointed, and rather flattish at the
sides, is whitish, with the point horn-coloured. The shanks, six lines
high, are delicate and brownish. The front of the head is a fine
crimson, sometimes scarlet; a wide border of the same colour surrounds
the under base of the beak; the bridle, as it is called, is black; the
top of the head is black, which colour extends downwards, from the nape
on each side, dividing the white on the cheeks from the white spot on
the hinder part of the neck; the under part of the neck is white; the
hinder part and the back are fine brown.
The female is rather smaller, and has not so much red round the bill;
the bridle is brownish; the cheeks are mixed with light brown; the
lesser wing coverts are brown; the back dark brown. The size, or the
want of some white spots at the tips of the feathers, do not serve to
distinguished the male from the female, as some bird-catchers say; nor
ought we either to imagine that the size or number of these spots
constitute different varieties; for all these distinctions are
accidental, and depend on physical strength and age. Our bird-catchers
think the large ones that are nearly the shape of the greater redpole
form a distinct species, and they give them the name of Fir Goldfinches,
because they say they always build in fir forests. Those that do not
exceed the size of the red-breast, they call Orchard Goldfinches, because
they suppose they always build in orchards. But these differences and
pretences are imaginary, because both are found of different sizes, the
orchard goldfinch large, and the fir, or wood goldfinch, quite small.
The young ones that are hatched first are always stronger and larger
than those hatched last, because they often carry off the food intended
for the latter, and, therefore, being better fed, they become larger and
stronger. This is sufficient to explain the difference of size in
different individuals of the same species.
The following varieties are better established:--1. The goldfinch, with a
yellow breast; 2. With a white head; 3. With the head black--four young
ones of this variety were found in the same nest; 4. The white
goldfinch; 5. And the black goldfinch, this being either entirely black,
which often happens in a cage, from giving it too much hemp seed, or
from old age; or it only retains the yellow spot on the wings, which is
also occasioned by captivity. M. Schilbach, superintendant of the
menagerie of Cassel, tried an experiment on a whole brood. He deprived
the birds of the light of the sun, even covered the cage with a piece of
cloth, and, by these means, obtained very black goldfinches, with only
the yellow spot on the wings; but they changed colour after moulting.
Those in which the black does not change are very old. It is, in fact, a
sign of approaching death.
HABITATION.--In their wild state goldfinches are found in all parts of
Europe, frequenting orchards, brambles, thickets, and mountainous
districts, interspersed with wood and fields, during the summer.
These birds are stationary, not changing their haunts in winter; they
merely assemble in the autumn in families, or rather in little flocks
of fifteen or twenty, seeking here and there places abounding in
thistles, and only when the snow becomes too deep leaving such
localities for others more accessible.
In the house, if kept in a cage, this should be a square one, because
these birds do not like hopping about the upper part, as they would
be forced to do, if in a bell-shaped cage, and also inclined to swing
round. When they run on the floor they should be given a small
artificial tree for a roost; for they like to perch on this whilst
singing as well as sleeping.
FOOD.--Their food, when wild, consists of all kinds of small seeds,
such as lettuce, goats'-beard, scorzonera, thistle, radish, and
canary seed.
With us, in the house, they are principally fed on poppy, hemp seed,
properly varied with lettuce, rape, and canary seed. If allowed to
range, the second universal paste agrees very well with them. I have
a goldfinch, which appears in good health, and eats not only of all
the vegetables brought to table, but also meat, though, in their wild
state, these birds never touch insects[46]. They must have green food
occasionally, such as chickweed, water-cresses, lettuce, or endive.
These birds feed largely, when loose in the room, rarely leaving the
food-dish, and driving off, if they can, with loud cries, any of
their companions who wish to approach. They will allow those birds,
however, to feed peaceably with them, that bear some analogy to their
species, at least, in the nature of the stomach, such as the canary,
siskin, and especially the lesser redpole, without distinction of
male or female.
BREEDING.--The goldfinch prefers building in large orchards, at the
tops of trees, on weak and terminal branches. It makes the most
beautiful nest of any of our birds, except the chaffinch, it being
finely rounded, very elegant and firm. The outer part is constructed
of fine moss, lichens, stalks of grass, and slender twigs; the whole
being interwoven with the greatest nicety. The interior is lined with
wool, horse-hair, and the cotton or down of the thistle[47], or
willow. The female has rarely more than one brood in the year, unless
she has been disturbed, and, in this case, the number of eggs is
always diminished; on this account goldfinches never appear to
increase in number. On a sea-green ground, the eggs have pale red
spots and speckles, mingled with streaks of reddish black, which
often form a circle at the large end. The parent birds disgorge the
food into the young ones' throats. Before the first moulting the
heads of the young birds are grey. If it is only wished to take male
birds from the nest, all that have a whitish ring round the root of
the beak, must be left. They must be brought up on poppy-seed and the
crumb of white bread, soaked in milk or water. Of all the natural
songs of birds, they imitate most easily and perfectly that of the
canary; they also pair with the canary, and produce together fruitful
young ones. For this purpose, a male goldfinch is paired with one or
two female canaries, which succeeds better than by placing a male
canary with a female goldfinch; the former being more amorous, most
favours this union, particularly if educated from youth. The fruit of
this union are not less distinguished for the beauty of their
plumage, often yellow, with the head, wings, and tail, of the
goldfinch, than for the sweetness of their song, whether natural or
acquired.
If you are afraid that a pair of canaries you value, may not hatch
their eggs as you wish, place them in the nest of a goldfinch in your
orchard, and you may be certain that they will be properly matured,
and the young ones brought up in the best manner. When they are ready
to fly, place them in a cage, and suspend it by the side of the nest
till they can feed themselves. By this means you will have no trouble
with their education.
[Illustration: CANARY CAGE FOR PARLOUR.]
DISEASES.--Epilepsy is one of the commonest disorders of this bird. If
the eyes are weak and swollen, anoint them with fresh butter. Stupor
and giddiness being very properly attributed to too great a use of
hemp seed, it is best to suppress it entirely, and supply its place
with the seed of lettuce and thistles. This latter is so beneficial,
that it would be well to give them, from time to time, a head to
pluck the seeds for themselves.
Old age makes them blind, and deprives them of their beautiful
colours; yet, notwithstanding all the evils with which they are
afflicted, in a cage a goldfinch has been known to live sixteen
years, and even twenty, or twenty-four years.
MODE OF TAKING.--In spring these birds are taken on a lure bush, with
a decoy bird of their own species. They will also enter the area, or
barn-floor trap, with chaffinches, if bundles of thistles are placed
there; but it is not without difficulty, for they are very watchful
to avoid nets and lime-twigs. In the winter, by building up bundles
of thistles, and placing snares and traps on them, several may be
caught; but in autumn and spring lime-twigs should be placed on them
in preference. It is a still better plan to place bundles of thistles
in a tree stuck about with lime-twigs. The goldfinch's call is
"_tziflit_," or "_sticlit_," which is its name in Bohemia.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The goldfinch is a very beautiful, lively,
active bird, always in motion, and turning continually to the right
and left. Its agreeable song, which is only discontinued during
moulting, is a mixture of tones and harmonies, more or less dwelt
upon, and the oftener the sound "_fink_" is introduced the more it is
admired amongst us. There are some goldfinches that utter it only
once or twice in their strains, whilst others will repeat it four or
five times following. This species learn with difficulty to repeat
airs from the flageolet, or other birds' songs, and in this respect
is inferior to canaries and linnets; but it is remarkable for its
docility. Goldfinches have been seen to let off a small cannon, and
imitate death. When properly instructed they will draw up their food
and water. They are taught this by means of a chain or pulley,
furnished with a soft leather band, two lines wide, pierced with four
holes, through which the wings and feet are to be passed; the two
ends meeting under the belly, and are retained there by a ring, to
which is fastened the chain that supports the bucket containing the
water or food. Whenever the little waterman wants either, he draws up
the chain with his beak, fixing it at intervals with his foot, and
thus succeeds in obtaining what he wishes; but if his little buckets
are suspended to a pulley, raising one makes the other descend, and
he can only enjoy his food and water in turn.
I have also seen goldfinches and siskins, placed in different cages,
that have little bells fixed to the seed drawer in such a way that
the bird cannot take its food without ringing them; the bells being
harmonised, tolerably agreeable chimes are produced, but one is soon
tired of such trifles.
The goldfinch is taught to go and come at command, without any danger
of losing it, much sooner than the linnet, though the latter learns
quite as soon to build in the room. To accomplish this feat the
winter should be chosen, and the cage, containing a goldfinch that
has not been rendered tender by having been too long accustomed to
the heat of the room, must be placed on the outside of the window
every day, or on a shelf intended for it, and where the mice cannot
reach it. Hemp seed must be scattered round, and a bunch of thistle
heads fastened by the side, the seeds of which should be mixed with
the hemp seed. Presently one or more goldfinches, attracted by the
call of the prisoner, collect, to take advantage of the scattered
food; as soon as you have succeeded so far it is useless to let the
decoy remain any longer exposed to the cold, which may injure it. It
will be quite sufficient to place the cage within the window, and to
put on the outside a cage as a trap, not for the sake of catching
these birds, but to scare away the sparrows, that would soon eat up
all the seed unless thus prevented; and in order that the trap may
only close when you wish, the door should be supported by a string,
passing into the room, and loosened, to catch the sparrows, but the
goldfinches should be allowed to go in and out at pleasure, till the
snow is on the point of disappearing, then close the trap on those
you wish to keep: the birds thus captured should be placed in a cage,
where they will soon grow tame, and learn to go and return to it.
Whatever form this cage is of, the door should be hung so as to
remain open as long as is required, and be closed without noise or
alarming the bird, either by means of a spring, that may be acted on
by the bird, without his perceiving it, or by his pushing the door of
it open on the inside. When a goldfinch has been thus trained it may
be let fly without fear the following August, at the time of
moulting. It is true that it will be lost for some time, but it will
not fail to return in December, when the ground is covered with snow,
and it will sing much more sweetly than it would had it been kept
prisoner. As soon as it has flown, a cage should constantly be hung
outside the window, and seeds placed in it, that, if it should chance
to return, it may find food; but it is rarely seen again till winter:
at that time the cage should be so arranged that the door may be
closed as soon as the bird enters, as it used to do in the room; the
surest way is to attract it by a call bird. It must not be allowed to
come out so often as before, and it will remain, without injury, shut
up till the season arrives for giving it its liberty again. The same
course may be pursued for the tit, and with still more success for
the chaffinch, which does not enter the snares of the bird-catcher as
easily as the others. If it is feared that it may be caught in a
neighbouring area or barn-floor trap, it may be frightened from this
snare in future, by stretching a net once, in the orchard or garden
near. The greenfinch is the best for this manoeuvre, as it is
extremely fond of hemp seed, is more rarely taken, and returns less
wild than the chaffinch. The birds that enjoy their liberty in the
summer sing more finely than without this advantage, and, what is
almost incredible, though taken to a distance of several leagues,
they have always found their master's house again[48].