The GIRLITZ (_Serinus hortulanus_) may be regarded as the type of a
peculiar group of the Bullfinch family, allied on the one hand to the
South African or Carmine Bullfinch, and on the other to the Canary, with
which we are all familiar. The beak of the Girlitz is very short and
small, less spherically vaulted than that of the Bullfinch, and moreover
blunt, instead of being sharp-pointed at the tip; the legs are short
and weak, the wings comparatively long and pointed, the tail graduated,
and the prevailing colour of the plumage yellowish or green. The male is
a magnificent little creature, of about the size of a Siskin, three or
three and three-quarter inches in length and eight in width, the tail
measuring two inches, and the wing two and a half inches. The female is a
trifling degree smaller. In the male, the fore part of the head, throat,
and middle of the breast are of a bright yellowish green, the under part
of the body light yellow, while the upper part and the back of the head
and neck are of an olive green. The under parts are uniform in shade,
but marked at the sides with two large, deep black streaks, the back is
dotted with some very faint spots, running from the head to the tail;
over the wings pass two yellow lines, the wing and tail feathers are
plain black, edged with a greenish shade. During the autumn the feathers
upon the middle of the back and wings are of an olive brown or reddish
grey. The female is paler in colour, and more strongly marked than her
mate; the young ones are of a dirty or pale greenish yellow, marked along
the body with greyish-yellow streaks.
In Germany the Girlitz is numbered amongst the migratory birds, appearing
there about the last day of March or first of April, and remaining until
late in the autumn; indeed, it spreads in a similar manner over the whole
of Southern Europe, but in spite of this fact we can scarcely designate
its wanderings as true migrations. This bird is particularly numerous in
Spain, and is to be met with in all parts of its highlands and lowlands,
if we except the country about Castile. In Catalonia it is as commonly
met with as is the Sparrow with us; every garden, every vineyard is
enlivened by its presence, it abounds in every grove--even the summits
of Montserrat affording it a welcome residence. Some few years ago the
Girlitz was unknown in the interior of Germany, and was only found about
the south-eastern and south-western portions of that country; but at the
present time it is met with in considerable numbers around Dresden, and
we ourselves have captured a little pair in the neighbourhood of Jena.
The love of this species for certain districts is quite remarkable.
Orchards situated near vegetable gardens form its favourite retreat;
all such places as present these attractions are much frequented,
whilst in districts that are deficient in gardens and fruit-trees the
Girlitz is but rarely seen. We have observed that it rapidly increases
and multiplies in any locality where it settles. According to Hoffmann,
this bird does not inhabit the hilly parts around Stuttgard, although
often met with in the fields or plains; while Homeyer tells us that it
makes no distinction between high-lying and low-lying districts. The
Girlitz is a spruce, brisk, lively little creature, with a moderately
good voice, and considerable peculiarity in its habits, particularly
during the breeding season. Strangely enough, the male birds are the
first to come amongst us, and are afterwards followed by the females.
The former, when they begin to arrive, attract attention by their loud
notes and careless movements, perching upon the highest trees, raising
their tails, and turning themselves in all directions, as they busily
pour forth their song; but should the spring be wet or cold, they keep
well under shelter of the trees, and only occasionally steal out to
snatch a morsel from the ground, while their notes during such times are
faint, few, and far between. As the breeding season approaches the song
of the little strangers becomes more animated, and their gestures more
extraordinary. The male, not content with exhausting itself to please its
mate with its voice, stretches itself like a cuckoo upon the branches,
erects the feathers upon its throat, spreads its tail as it balances
and turns its body in all directions, then rises suddenly into the air,
fluttering in a most curious manner, with somewhat of the motion of the
bat; it next settles upon the tree, throwing itself from one side to the
other, after which it will return to its first perch, and recommence
its song. Should another male appear, nothing can exceed the rage of
the jealous occupant, who pursues the intruder from one tree to another
with furious indignation, and only leaves him after having inflicted a
considerable amount of very severe chastisement for the liberty he has
taken. The song of this species is somewhat peculiar, though we cannot
exactly say that its tones are musical, being rather monotonous and
shrill, yet still, to our mind, far from unpleasing. The nest, which
may really be called a work of art, is formed of the fine roots of
plants or blades of grass, and bits of hay. The interior is lined very
delicately with hair or feathers, and the little structure is generally
buried in the thick foliage of a tree or shrub. According to Hoffmann,
pear-trees are preferred, but it will build upon apple, cherry, and, we
believe, pine trees, while in Spain it is most fond of settling upon the
boughs of the orange and citron. The brood consists of from four to five
small, blunt-shaped eggs, of a dirty-white or greenish colour, marked
principally at the broadest end with pale brown, red, reddish-grey, or
purplish-black spots, dots, or streaks. In Spain we have found newly-laid
eggs from April to July. It is probable that these birds breed twice in
the year.
The nest of the Girlitz is not always very easily to be found, but if
sought for carefully its situation will be betrayed by the female; the
latter is fed by her mate during the whole period of incubation, and
when hungry expresses her wants by calling to her little companion, so
that any one wishing to discover their retreat needs only to stand under
the tree and watch for the return of the male bird. The mother is very
faithful to her little charges, and sits for about ten days upon her
eggs. As soon as the young leave the shell they also call for food with a
chirping kind of sound, and soon becoming weary of the nest, frequently
leave it before they are really strong enough to do so. The parents feed
them for a considerable time, and will even bring them food if they are
confined in a cage placed near the tree--indeed, the latter is a very
convenient plan by which to secure proper nourishment for the little
prisoners until they have attained their full strength. The Girlitz feeds
chiefly on all kinds of seeds, and may be kept when tame upon rapeseed,
poppy-seed, or millet; water is indispensable. These birds are well
adapted for a cage, and are very social. In Spain, when the breeding
season is over, they assemble in large flocks at the commencement of
autumn, and during such times associate in some degree with Goldfinches,
Sparrows, and Fieldfinches. They are eagerly pursued by most of the
smaller birds and beasts of prey, and the young not unfrequently fall
victims to these marauders. They are caught by the Spaniards in great
numbers and brought to market, where they are purchased both for the cage
and the kitchen. In Germany the Girlitz is but little molested. In Spain
it is trapped by means of the "esparto," a long, rush-like kind of grass
that grows in great abundance on the Spanish plains. The blades of this
grass, smeared with bird-lime, are placed in considerable quantities on
the tops of the trees, their summits being thus converted into one large
trap. The numbers so caught are most astonishing, for it will often
happen that not one-fourth part of a large flock escapes in safety from
the treacherous branches, even birds of considerable size being sometimes
taken in this manner.