Fringilla Laponica, LINNÆUS; Le Grand Montain, BUFFON; Der
Lerchenfink, BECHSTEIN.
This would be mistaken for a lark at first sight, as much from its
plumage as from the length of its spur. We should also see them much
oftener in Germany if the bird-catchers, who catch them in their lark's
nests, did not take or kill them both indifferently. Their decoys are
the same as the buntings (_Emberizæ_, Linn.), for though we cannot
observe them much whilst alive, we cannot be deceived as to their
pairing with finches (_Fringillæ_, Linn.) buntings and larks. They are
about the size of the yellowhammer, six inches and a half in length, of
which the tail measures two. The beak is yellow, with a black tip; the
feet dark brown; the head blackish, spotted with reddish white,
sometimes quite black; a white line passes from the base of the bill
above the eyes, down each side of the neck, curving towards the breast;
the upper part of the body is red, with brown spots; the throat and
breast are pale red; some males are black in the middle of the lower
part.
The female is paler in its colours; its breast is spotted with grey and
black; in fact its plumage resembles the field lark's.
OBSERVATIONS.--This bird is always found in the north, both in the old
and new world, and goes towards the south in winter. It is met with
by us on its arrival with the larks, and on its return with the snow
bunting, but it is oftenest taken with larks. Its call is a kind of
shrill whistle, and its song is very similar to the linnet's; the
female also warbles, but only in the bullfinch's style. It ranges the
room like the lark, and if in a cage hops about its perches like the
chaffinch. It is fed on rape, hemp, and poppy seed, which appear to
agree with it very well. It may be fed at less expense on the first
universal paste, as it also likes meal worms. I think that in its
wild state it lives, like the chaffinch, on seeds and insects.