Fringilla citrinella, LINNÆUS; Le Venturon, BUFFON; Der
Citronenfink, BECHSTEIN.
This bird very nearly resembles the canary in its colour, shape, song,
and habits; but it is smaller and its notes weaker. Its resemblance,
however, is so marked, that I should be inclined to suppose it the
primitive wild stock, if the canary had not its representative in those
islands from which it takes its name. The length of the citril finch is
five inches, of which the tail measures two. The beak is short, the feet
flesh-coloured, the plumage on the upper part of the body yellowish
green, streaked with brown; the under part of the rump greenish yellow;
the principal tint on the breast yellow.
The female is less spotted, and the general shade of colour is lighter.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species, inhabiting the south of Europe,
occasionally strays into the southern parts of Germany[52], and the
sweetness of their song makes them much sought after. They should be
treated in the same manner as canaries.