Fringilla Melba, LINNÆUS; Le Chardonneret vert, BUFFON; Der
grüne Stieglitz, BECHSTEIN.
This bird is exactly of the form of our common goldfinch. Its length is
four inches and a half, of which the tail measures one and a half. The
beak is half an inch long, and of a carnation colour; the iris is
chestnut; the feet gray; the front of the head, the back of the eye, and
the throat, are of a bright red; the bridle is ash-colour; the upper
part of the head, the neck, and the back, are yellowish green.
The female has a light yellow beak, the top of the head and the neck
ash-colour; the little coverts of the wings and rump yellow-green; the
feathers of the tail brown, edged with pale red; the rest like the male.
OBSERVATIONS.--This species is found in Brazil. The male pleases the
ear by his song, as much as the eye by his plumage. It appears that
by feeding them simply with rape and canary seed they may be
preserved healthy for many years.
[Illustration]