Fringilla serinus, LINNÆUS; Le Serin vert, ou le Cini, BUFFON;
Der Girlitz, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is smaller than the siskin, its length not exceeding four
inches and a quarter, of which the tail measures one inch and a third.
The beak is short and thick, brown above and white below; the iris is
dark chestnut. The shanks are six lines high, and are of a flesh colour.
The plumage of the male very much resembles that of the grey canary; the
front of the head, the circle round the eyes, a kind of collar, the
breast and belly, are pale jonquil-coloured, mixed with a little green;
the nape of the neck, the cheeks, the temples, and lesser wing-coverts,
are of a canary green, mingled with rust colour and black.
The spots scattered over the plumage are not isolated, but united to
each other by an undulating line; they are so small on the head, that it
is only speckled.
It is necessary to examine the female very closely to distinguish it
from the siskin, for, with the exception of a reddish grey tint, the
colours are the same; but its beak is shorter, its tail longer, and its
shape freer.
From my latest observations this bird appears to be the same as the
citril finch; comparing them together in cabinets has confirmed my
opinion; but that which has decided me is the testimony of my friend,
Dr. Meyer, of Offenbach, who has often seen and even fed in his house
several of these birds. From him I derive the rest of this article.
[Illustration: SERIN FINCH.]
HABITATION.--It is not more than ten years since the serin was
observed between Frankfort and Offenbach. They arrive every year in
large flights, during March, and depart in October; but there are
always some that remain all the winter. Several were taken in
January, 1800, when the thermometer was at twenty-one degrees
Réaumur, and I myself have seen some near Offenbach at the end of
February. They appear to prefer fruit trees, yet in woods they
also appear attached to beech and oak trees; but I have never met
with them by the sides of rivers or streams planted with willows.
FOOD.--They feed on all the small seeds found in fields and orchards,
particularly groundsel, plantain, garden pimpernel, and others of the
same kind.
In the house, rape, mixed with a little poppy seed, agrees very well
with them; a few grains of hemp seed and husked oats may be added
from time to time.
BREEDING.--Their nest is generally placed on the lower branches of
apple and pear trees, sometimes on beeches and oaks, but never on
willows by the water-side. It is constructed of fine and divided
roots, mosses, lichens, principally of those which are farinaceous,
the whole being entwined with great nicety, and lined with a thick
bed of feathers, horse-hair, and pigs' bristles. They lay three or
four, rarely five, eggs of the form of, but rather smaller than,
those of the canary; white, but having at the large end a circle of
spots and dots of a bright reddish brown. The hen sits on the eggs
thirteen or fourteen days, during which time the male feeds her. He
also helps to feed the young ones, which is done by disgorging the
food; the young perfectly resemble the grey linnet; they may be
reared easily on soaked rape seed; but it is best to take the parent
birds, and place them in the cage with their little ones, which they
will continue to feed. The young birds remain grey till after
moulting, they then attain their full plumage, as described before,
but are never so beautiful in the house as in their wild state. After
being kept a few years in a cage, the yellow in those taken full
grown becomes pale, and fades at length to nearly white. This bird
will pair with the canary, siskin, linnet, or goldfinch.
MODE OF TAKING.--These birds are easily taken in the area, or
barn-floor trap, on a decoy bush, and with lime twigs placed near the
stalks of plantain.
DISEASES.--With the exception of consumption, of which one I had died,
I know of no disease they are subject to.
OBSERVATIONS.--Of all house birds, these are the most sprightly and
indefatigable songsters. Their voice is not strong, but it is very
melodious. The song, with the exception of a few passages, is like
the lark's, and might be mistaken for the canary's. In their wild
state they sing incessantly, either perched on the outer branches of
a tree, or whilst rising in the air, and gently sinking again to
their former situation, or whilst flying from tree to tree. Their
call resembles that of the canary, and their habits are also similar
to that species.
They are of a very affectionate character; when allowed to range the
room with siskins, linnets, and similar birds, they will caress all
with the beak, but seem to prefer the company of the goldfinch, whose
tones they will imitate, and improve their warbling by it. They are
indeed very attractive birds.