Fringilla nivalis, LINNÆUS; Le Niverole, ou Pinson de neige,
BUFFON; Der Schneefin, BECHSTEIN.
The name has been given it as much from its being found on high
mountains and the colour of its plumage, as for its resemblance to the
snow bunting. Its total length is seven inches and a quarter, of which
the tail measures two and a half; the beak six lines long, very pointed,
but thick at the base, and of a glossy black; the feet ten lines high,
dark chestnut colour: its plumage is pretty; the top of the head,
cheeks, temples, nape, back, and sides of the neck are dark
ash-coloured.
The female only differs from the male in the grey of the head having a
reddish tint, and the whole of the under part of the body, being white;
the breast has also a dirtier shade, and the sides are spotted with
black.
OBSERVATIONS.--The snow finch inhabits the southern Alps, but is found
as far north as the middle of Germany. I have even seen them in
Thuringia, in company with the mountain finch; it is a sprightly
bird, and very fearless in a cage. It may be fed on rape, millet, and
hemp seed; but it appears to prefer the seed of the fir and nettle
hemp (_Galeopsis cannabina_): one would think that in its wild state
it also fed on insects, as it readily takes meal worms when offered
them. Its call is "_kipp, kipp_." It sings a great deal, but its song
is not more agreeable than the mountain finch's, to which it appears
allied, and like that is only kept in the house for its beauty and
rarity.