circumstance, these birds were always supposed to be male and female, and
this opinion was strengthened by observing that they showed the greatest
affection for each other. After a time the lesser bird--whom for the
sake of brevity we will call the female--was always busy on the ground;
it seemed melancholy, and ate scarcely anything, but was constantly fed
by the male out of his crop. One morning there lay a beautiful white egg
in the cage, which the female watched most carefully. My father at once
fastened a willow basket to the cage, filled with materials for a nest,
and placed the egg upon it; the female, however, lifted it again to the
bottom of the cage. On this we gave them a common wooden box, in which a
hole was cut, and filled it with soft materials; both birds immediately
busied themselves in turning them out, and in chipping some very fine
shreds off the inside of the box, on which to lay the egg. From this
time the female seldom came out of the box, but the male frequently went
in to feed her. Several other eggs were laid during the next few days,
some being larger than the rest. The devotion of both birds to the task
of incubation increased daily, and they became so heated as to lose the
feathers from the under part of their bodies. As time went on, neither of
them came out, or only very rarely, to eat. At length we observed that
one was dead; the other continued to sit upon the eggs, but died after a
few days. The eggs were examined, and proved to be addled. It was only
on the birds being stuffed, that the reason of our disappointment was
discovered; both were females, and had laid unfertile eggs. Many English
and Belgian collectors have succeeded in making the Variegated Parrots
lay, so we may hope to see these beautiful birds more numerous amongst
us."

The Australian continent would seem to be a veritable Eden for the Parrot
tribes! The dazzling Cockatoos peep like gorgeous flowers from the masses
of green foliage, and the Scarlet-coated Rose Parrakeet glitters amongst
the yellow blossoms of the acacia, whilst Honey-birds swarm in blithe
and busy parties about the various trees, and the otherwise deserted
plains are animated by the presence of the little Grass Parrakeets.
Parrots abound in Australia, as do the swallows in our villages and
roads, and are met with everywhere in all their variegated beauty. When
the farmer is about to get in his harvest, these birds appear before his
barns in large flocks, seeking, like pigeons, for stray corn among the
stubble. Poetical travellers have often been inspired by the ever varying
spectacle presented by such gorgeous objects; but the settler hates them
from the bottom of his heart, and avenges himself for their depredations
by shooting them with the same indifference as that with which our
country folks kill sparrows.

THE WAVED PARROT (_Melopsittacus undulatus_).

[Illustration: THE ROSELLA (_Platycercus eximius_).]

This beautiful bird is of small size, though its long tail makes it seem
larger than it is; its length is from eight to nine inches, and the
span of its wings ten inches. The body is slender and elegantly formed,
the tail long and graduated, the wings comparatively long and pointed,
the beak moderately large, with a long curved point. The cere, in which
the large nostrils are placed, is broad and slightly inflated; the feet
long, the toes slender, the outer one being longer than the inner. The
beautiful grass green that predominates in the plumage is prettily
marked; the whole of the mantle--that is, the back of the head, neck, top
of the back, shoulders, and wing-covers--are pale yellowish green, each
feather being edged and spotted with black and brown, more finely on the
neck and head than on the back; the under side is of a beautiful uniform
green. The parts of the face, that is, the fore part of the head, vertex,
and throat, are yellow, bordered and spotted with four bright blue spots,
of which those upon the cheeks are the largest, while the others look
like three little round drops. The wings are brown, the outer web of
the quills dark grey, spotted with greenish yellow; the tail, with the
exception of the two blue middle feathers, is green in the middle. Each
feather is striped with yellow, the eye-rings yellowish white, the beak
horn-coloured, the feet pale blue. The female is distinguished from her
mate in being somewhat smaller, and by the different colour of the cere;
with her this is greyish green, whilst in the male it is a bright blue.
The young are without the deep blue spots on the throat, and the regular
markings on the head, which is entirely covered with delicate stripes;
when only eight months old, they assume the plumage of the parent birds.

[Illustration: THE WAVED PARROT (_Melopsittacus undulatus_).]

Shaw was the first naturalist who became acquainted with and described
the Waved Parrot, and Gould is the only traveller who gives us any
information respecting its natural state; from him we learn that these
birds inhabit the whole of the interior of Australia in enormous numbers,
especially where there are large tracts of grass, the seeds of which they
eat.

When Gould was investigating the plains in the interior, he saw the
Waved Parrots flying about, and remained for some time in the vicinity,
in order to observe their habits and mode of life. They came in flocks
of from twenty to one hundred to a small lake to drink, and from this
locality flew at stated times over the plain in search of the seeds which
are their exclusive food; they went to the water in the greatest numbers
in the early morning, or as it grew dark in the evening. During the heat
of the day they sat motionless under the leaves of the gum-trees, the
holes of which were just then occupied by the pairs who were laying, and
as long as they remained quiet, were with difficulty perceptible. When
going to the stream, they alighted freely in large flocks upon the dead
twigs of the Eucalypti, or on the branches that hung down to the water.
Their activity is wonderful, and their flight very rapid, resembling
that of the falcon or swallow; they run upon the ground with facility,
but their feet are ill adapted for climbing among the branches of trees.
When on the wing they utter a screaming cry; and whilst perched amuse
each other with a caressing kind of twitter, which might almost be
termed a song. The Waved Parrot congregates in parties, even during the
breeding-time, although pairs are easily distinguished by their faithful
devotion to each other. The nest is made in the holes and fissures of
gum-trees, and in December contains from four to six eggs of a pure white
colour and somewhat round shape. By the end of December the young have
flown out and are capable of providing for themselves; they then collect
in great flocks, that fly about in company with the old birds. As soon
as the breeding-time is over, the flocks begin their migrations, during
which they pass regularly from south to north, and only return to their
breeding-place when the grass-seeds are ripe. Throughout South Australia
they appear in spring, and also in autumn, with the same precision as
our migratory birds. Some years ago only solitary Waved Parrots were
occasionally seen amongst us; but at the present time every ship brings
hundreds to Europe. Before leaving Australia, the captives are put
together in wooden cages, the perches of which are placed like little
flights of steps above each other, so as to hold a great number of birds
in the smallest possible space. Such a travelling bower presents a most
amusing appearance; the whole party sits in lines, so that one row of
faces appears above the heads of another, and all eyes are fixed upon
an observer, as they seem to beg to be freed from their confinement.
Quarrels and strife have never been observed among them, and until
breeding-time, thousands live most comfortably together, those of the
same sex as happily as the little pairs do. We have seen one of the large
cages of a bird merchant, that had formed part of a cargo of these birds,
and contained more than a thousand pairs, all of which lived in great
harmony. The Waved Parrot does not belong to the "inseparables"--that
is, to those species that pine and die on the loss of their mates; but
it loves the society of its own species, and prefers the company of
the opposite sex. Sometimes it will associate with a small parrot of a
different species, though it never shows the same attachment that it
exhibits to its own. It is, however, necessary to keep these birds in
pairs, as under any other circumstances they are never seen to full
advantage. They require little change in their food, and can live upon
millet or canary seed; they will also eat the juicy leaves of plants,
cabbage, and other vegetables; but despise fruit, sugar, and dainties. In
spite of their preference for dry food, they drink very little, sometimes
not for weeks together, but their owner must not, on that account,
neglect to give them fresh water.

Most parrots, however gentle their disposition, become quite
insupportable by reason of their noise. This is, however, by no means the
case with the Waved Parrots; they can produce a great variety of sounds,
but never use their voice in such a degree as to become tiresome, or
except to express pleasure. It is not too much to say that the male of
this species should be reckoned among the singing birds, for its notes
are something more than a twitter, and often become a very expressive
though modest song; it may, indeed, be taught to imitate the notes of
other good singers in such a manner as to deceive an expert ear. In order
to rear these birds, they should be placed in a small room, which can be
aired and warmed without disturbing the occupants; the floor should be
strewed with sand, and the walls hung with boxes. It is advisable, but
not necessary, to ornament the chamber with living and harmless plants,
for these offer the best places for rest and concealment; evergreens are
particularly suitable for this purpose. Holes should be made in hollow
blocks of willow-trees, and divided into compartments by boards, so
that many pairs may make their nests in the same block. A room of this
description is by far the best for breeding purposes, but in most cases
a moderately-sized cage is quite sufficient. The most important thing is
to leave the birds undisturbed, and keep them well fed.

It is necessary to be personally acquainted with these lovable little
creatures, and to have observed them during the performance of their
parental duties, to be able to understand the enthusiasm with which they
are regarded; it is only during their pairing time that we become fully
conscious of their many merits. "The male," says Devon, "is a model
husband, and his mate is a model mother. He devotes his whole attention
to his chosen one, never heeding another female, though she be in the
same place with him; he is always zealous, devoted, and ardent--indeed,
shows the utmost affection towards his partner. Perched upon a twig
before the opening of the nest, he sings her his best song, and while she
is sitting feeds her with as much zeal as pleasure. He is neither dull,
quiet, nor sleepy, like many other husbands, but always cheerful and
charming."

The building of the nest is the exclusive business of the female. She
works with her beak at the entrance till it satisfies her, and then,
more or less, at the interior, gnawing off little shreds, on which she
lays, in the space of two days, from four to eight small, round, shining
white eggs. She then sits for eighteen or twenty days most assiduously,
and during the whole time is fed by the male, never leaving the hole
except on the most urgent necessity. The young remain some thirty or
thirty-five days in the nest, and only quit it when fledged. During all
this time the mother is busily occupied in keeping their home clean, and,
like a good housewife, clears out her little chamber every morning, and
cleanses and purifies her offspring with extraordinary care. Immediately
after leaving the nest, the young go in search of food, and a few days
after conduct themselves quite like the old birds. Still, care must be
taken, for the before-mentioned zeal of the father is often shown in
an unexpected manner; he will fall upon his brood so boisterously, and
seize them with so much roughness, that he kills them by his caresses.
The first brood is no sooner fledged than the parents have a second, and
even a third and fourth; indeed, Schlegel, the director of the Zoological
Gardens at Breslau, declares that he has known them breed all the year
round. Such cases are exceptional; three broods, according to our own
observations, are the usual number. The last family of young may be left
with the parents without danger, and then the first brood may be brought
back. These show themselves to be quite as affectionate as their parents,
and feed and take care of the nestlings. Moreover, they will imitate each
other in everything--in climbing, flying, eating, and chattering--so that
the noise in the nursery often becomes quite deafening, and sometimes
seems to be too much even for the parents, who will then remove to a
distance to get out of the way.

[Illustration: THE CORELLA (_Nymphicus Novæ Hollandicæ_).]

A pair of Waved Parrots in our possession occupied a large cage, in which
they seemed very comfortable, but perhaps the bright sun, as it laughed
at them through the windows, made them sigh for freedom. One day the
female cleverly made her escape, and, before we discovered it, had flown
through the window. We now learned to admire this bird from another point
of view, as we watched its glorious flight, and may say with truth that
we forgot to feel angry at our loss. The fugitive rose high into the air,
and screamed with delight as it wheeled round and round with incomparable
rapidity over a neighbouring garden; it flew quite differently to any
parrot we ever saw--indeed, more like a falcon or a swallow, and was
soon out of sight, but in a few minutes reappeared in the garden,
apparently in consequence of the anxious cry of its mate, for we had at
once placed the latter near the window. The lovers of these birds know
that their tone is deceptively like that of our sparrows. It was the
height of summer, and all the roofs were covered with young sparrows,
who exhibited the greatest agitation as soon as the beautiful stranger
appeared. The parrot had placed itself upon a plum-tree near the window,
and from thence conversed with its mate. The young sparrows, who thought
that the enticing chirp was intended for them, ventured near in flocks,
regardless of the warnings and cautions of their elders, for though the
latter seemed astonished, they were far too old birds to be deceived,
and would not approach; the young ones, on the contrary, surrounded it
in crowds. It took not the slightest notice of them, but they were not
to be repulsed; they became most pressing in their attentions, hopped
quite close to it, looked at it with the greatest delight, and answered
its chirp with all their little strength. When it became angry and flew
off to another tree, the whole array followed, and it was only when
the stranger began to exhibit its splendid powers of flight, that the
sparrows were compelled to remain below abashed. This comedy lasted for
about half an hour, and the whole length and breadth of the garden was
filled with sparrows, when at last, love for its mate made the fugitive
return to its room; on this it was seized and put into the cage, where
it was most tenderly received by its companion, and the crowd outside
dispersed. In this country the Waved Parrots can be kept for whole weeks
out of doors. In the spring of 1861, two pairs of these birds flew
from a cage to the estate of a noted collector in Belgium; they betook
themselves to the tops of some high trees in a large park, and were lost
during some time. While they remained at large, as it afterwards proved,
they had made their nest, and reared a number of young ones. The owner
of the property surprised a whole flock of from ten to twelve in a field
of oats, where they were helping themselves; from that time they were
enticed with proper food, and before the winter ten birds were captured.
Unfortunately, it was impossible to observe those that were still at
liberty, as it would have been most interesting to learn if the strangers
could survive one of our winters.

[Illustration: THE GROUND PARRAKEET (_Pezoporinus formosus_).]

THE CORELLA.

The CORELLA (_Nymphicus Novæ Hollandicæ_) is closely allied to the
Cockatoos, although belonging to the group of True Parrots. These birds
are fully a foot long, and nearly the same in their spread of wing. The
plumage is very variegated in its markings; the fore part of the head,
the tuft, and cheeks, are lemon colour; the ear-coverings bright orange;
the back of the neck, the two middle tail-feathers, and the outer border
of the wings, brownish grey; the back, shoulders, under side, and outer
tail-feathers, greyish chocolate brown. The shoulders and sides are the
darkest; the upper wing-covers are white; the eyes dark brown; the beak
lead colour; the feet blueish grey. The female resembles the male, except
that the face and the crest are dark olive green; the feathers near the
throat are brownish grey, those of the under parts of the body and upper
tail-cover yellow; the four middle feathers of the tail are grey, the
rest yellow, and, with the exception of the outer web, edged delicately
with brown. Gould, whom we have to thank for a full description of the
Corella, found this beautiful bird in great numbers in the interior of
Australia. On the coast it is rare in comparison with the thousands seen
on the plains of the interior, and in eastern Australia it seems to be
more numerous than in the western parts of that continent.

In summer the Corellas build their nests near the Hunter and Peel rivers,
and other streams running north, if they can find suitable trees. After
the breeding season they assemble in innumerable flocks, which cover
whole tracts of country, or alight in hundreds upon the overhanging
branches of the gum-trees. In September these flocks begin to migrate
to their breeding-place, and in February or March return to the north.
They devour grass seed, like the rest of their congeners, but cannot
live without water, and, therefore, must remain in the neighbourhood of
a stream. They are very active, run with facility on the ground, and fly
slowly but often to a considerable distance before they alight. They
are but little afraid of man, and if startled from the ground, wend
their way to the nearest tree, perch upon a branch, and, as soon as the
danger is over, return to the ground; not being shy, they are easily
captured. They lay five or six white eggs, about an inch long. Corellas
have only lately been brought to Europe in any considerable number; at
the present day they are to be met with in all large zoological gardens,
and may be obtained from the principal dealers in birds. They require
but little tending, and need no particular surroundings for breeding;
but they should be left as much as possible to themselves. Two birds in
the Hamburgh Zoological Gardens sat by turns on their eggs, the female
from the noon of one day to the forenoon of the next, and the male in the
intermediate hours. As far as we know, such a division of parental duties
has not been observed in any other parrots.

THE GROUND PARRAKEET.

The GROUND PARRAKEET (_Pezoporinus formosus_) reminds us in many
particulars of the Owl-Parrot, or Kakapo; its plumage is of similar
colour, and its habits resemble those of that bird in many respects. The
length of the Ground Parrakeet is about thirteen inches, the stretch
of wing somewhat less; the plumage is dark green, striped with a still
darker shade of the same colour; that of the upper side is dark grass
green, each feather irregularly striped with black and yellow; upon
the head and neck there are black lines. The neck and breast are pale
yellowish green; the belly and under covers of the wings a beautiful
yellowish green, with numerous curved black stripes; the brow is scarlet;
the quill-feathers green on the outer web, and on the inner dark brown,
spotted with pale yellow. The four middle tail-feathers are green,
marked with yellow; the side tail-feathers, on the contrary, yellow,
spotted with dark green; the eyes are dark brown, with delicate light
blue circles; the feet and tarsi blueish flesh colour. Gould informs us
that the Ground Parrakeet is spread over all parts of South Australia,
including Van Dieman's Land; in the northern latitudes of that continent
it has never been observed. This bird lives almost exclusively on the
ground, and is seldom seen among the branches of trees. Barren sandy
districts, abounding in low grass and weeds, or moors covered with
rushes, constitute its favourite haunts; there it lives a retired life,
either alone or in pairs, and is, therefore, almost impossible to find
without the assistance of a dog; it can run among the grass with
great rapidity and persistency, or lie close to the ground, like a hen
or a woodcock, in the hope of being overlooked, and when flushed will
rise and fly quickly over the ground, making all kinds of zig-zags in
the air, like a snipe, then fall again, and run hurriedly on. The eggs,
which are white, are laid on the bare ground, and both parents assist
in their incubation. The young assume the plumage of the adult in the
spring, and separate from their parents as soon as they are old enough to
provide for themselves. The flesh of the Ground Parrakeet is considered
very excellent; it is more tender than that of a snipe, and in flavour
not unlike that of the quail. The example figured in our coloured
illustration (Plate II.) is the _Pezoporinus cornutus_, which differs
somewhat from the preceding, especially in having two beautiful horn-like
appendages to the head.

[Illustration: THE GROUND PARRAKEET ____ PEZOPORINUS (_Life size_)]

THE LORIES.

In India and the neighbouring islands we find some species of
Short-tailed Parrots called LORIES (_Lorii_), differing so essentially
from those we have described, that modern naturalists are inclined to
form them into a separate family. Amongst the points in which they are
unlike other parrots, we must mention their comparatively long neck, and
feeble beak, the slightly bent under-mandible, without notches at the
edge, and closely compressed; the by no means fleshy tongue, divided at
its tip into a bunch of horny fibres, and the streaming plumage, which
is decorated with the most magnificent colours. Our knowledge of these
beautiful birds in their native state is very limited; we are, however,
told that the fibrous tongue is employed to lap up the sweet juices that
exude from the leaves and blossoms of the trees, and that this very
peculiar diet is the great hindrance to their being tamed or transported
to any considerable distance; still, in spite of this, some species are
occasionally brought to Europe, and will live for many years in a cage.
They are docile, and may be taught to speak, but are quiet and languid
when in confinement.

THE PURPLE-CAPPED LORY.

The PURPLE-CAPPED LORY, or LORIKEET (_Lorius domicella_), the largest
and best known of these birds, is a really magnificent creature, about
twelve inches long and twenty inches across the wings. The plumage is of
brilliant scarlet, deep purple on the top of the head, the back of the
head violet, the upper wing-covers green, the legs sky-blue; over the
breast runs a crescent-shaped yellow line; the tail-feathers are scarlet
at the root, striped with black towards the top, and dotted with yellow
at the tips; the beak is orange-coloured, and the feet dark grey.

The Purple-Capped Lory lives in parties in the woods, which it never
quits; its movements are lively, and its flight very rapid. It would seem
that these birds do not subsist entirely upon the nectar from plants, as
they may be reared without any particular care upon bread soaked in milk,
or any kind of parrot food, and will live for years upon this diet.

We learn from the sailors who bring them to Europe that they are
frequently offered for sale in India, but die in great numbers when in
confinement.

THE DAPPLED LORIKEET.

The DAPPLED LORIKEET (_Psitteuteles versicolor_) is a small bird of about
six and a half inches in length. The plumage is much variegated; the
cheek-stripes and top of the head are dark red, with a band round the
neck of deep sky blue; the back blueish green, the wings green, the upper
tail-covers light yellowish green, all the upper feathers being narrowly
striped with yellowish green, and the under-feathers streaked with
yellow along the shaft; both sides of the belly and the inner side of the
leg are spotted with purple. The primary quills are black, bordered at
the edge with dark green, and surrounded by a yellowish line. The beak is
scarlet, the foot a light ash grey, the cere and the bare patch around
the eye are greenish white, the iris is reddish yellow, with narrow red
rings around the pupil.

[Illustration: THE PURPLE-CAPPED LORY, OR LORIKEET (_Lorius domicella_).]

We are indebted to Gilbert for a short description of the habits of
this species, which is found on the northern side of Australia, more
particularly near Port Essington. These birds assemble, he tells us,
in innumerable hosts, and settle upon the gum-trees in order to obtain
nectar from their flowers: whilst a flock is in motion, their movements
are so regular and simultaneous that they might be mistaken for a passing
cloud, did not their piercing cries undeceive the spectator.

SWAINSON'S LORIKEET.

A Lorikeet nearly related to the preceding, called after Swainson
(_Psitteuteles Swainsonii_), has been described by Gould as
follows:--"The South Australian woods of gum-trees, extending to
Moreton's Bay and Van Dieman's Land, shelter large flocks of Swainson's
Lorikeets, the flowers of these forests furnishing them with a plentiful
supply of nectar and pollen; such trees as have newly blossomed being
preferred to any others by these dainty little creatures. The appearance
of a forest of Eucalypti covered with blossoms, upon which various
species of Parrots and Honey-birds are feeding, baffles all description;
three or four different kinds may often be seen busily combining to rob
the same branch; nor is it easier to imagine the thousands of tones and
cries uttered by a flock when rising into the air, preparatory to leaving
one tree for another." These swarms must be seen and heard if we would
form any adequate idea of them. During a morning's walk in the woods,
near the Hunter river, Gould came upon an enormous gum-tree, about 200
feet high, in full bloom, upon which hundreds were perched in the utmost
harmony; he killed specimens of all the four species of Lorikeet found in
that part of the country upon one bough.

[Illustration: THE DAPPLED LORIKEET (_Psitteuteles versicolor_).]

The flight of these Lorikeets is very powerful, and as straight as that
of an arrow: they rise with surprising rapidity, dart through the air
uttering noisy cries, and climb the trees with much adroitness, more in
the manner of a Titmouse than of a Parrot. After sunrise they are so
busily occupied in imbibing the nectar from the flowers, that they can
scarcely be frightened from their perch, and Gould found that the firing
of a gun had no other result than a loud scream, or merely caused some
of the birds to quit the branch that had been aimed at, and settle on
another. So successful are they in their search for nectar, that it often
streams from the mouths of those that have been shot if they are held up
by the feet.

Little has been learnt by travellers of the incubation of this species,
but it would seem that the flocks do not divide in the breeding season;
as many couples build upon one tree as can find room upon it. The nest
is made in the holes of trees during the month of October, and contains
from two to four white round eggs. In certain parts of Australia the
Lorikeets are great favourites with the natives, who string their heads
into chains, with which they deck themselves as with garlands.

THE MAIDEN LORIKEET.

The MAIDEN LORIKEET (_Coryphilus Tahitianus_), another member of this
group, inhabits the islands of the Pacific Ocean, and principally Tahiti,
from which it receives its name. It is a magnificent little bird, about
six inches long, with a tail that measures two inches and a half. The
feathers upon its head form a sort of coif or cap; the plumage is of
uniform blueish purple, with the exception of the throat and upper part
of the breast, which are of a dazzling white; the lower part of the wing
and tail covers are dusky black. Its habits are similar to those of other
Lorikeets.

THE PAPUAN LORY.

The PAPUAN LORY or RASMALAS (_Pyrrhodes carmosine Papuensis_) is one of
the somewhat aberrant forms of this group. In shape it is more elongated
than those we have just mentioned, and may be recognised by the two
middle feathers of its tail, which are longer than the body, and make
the entire length of the bird seventeen inches, of which no less than
eleven inches must be allowed to these middle tail-feathers: it measures
about fourteen inches across the wings. The plumage of the Rasmalas is
bright and beautifully tinted, its general colour scarlet, interspersed
with blue, golden, and grass-green spots; the head, neck, and top of the
back, and the whole of the under portion of the body, are scarlet, except
two streaks of splendid sky-blue, edged with scarlet, which run over the
hinder and middle parts of the head; the sides of the breast and legs are
spotted with yellow, the under tail-covers and the inner side of the legs
are deep blue, the wings green, and the centre tail-feathers light grass
green tipped with gold, these last colours being repeated upon the other
tail-feathers, only that the latter are of a somewhat darker shade at
their roots.

The Rasmalas is an inhabitant of New Guinea, and an article of traffic to
the natives, who treat the dried skins as they do those of the Birds of
Paradise, cutting away both the legs, before exporting them to Europe. As
far as we know, this species has never been brought alive to our part of
the world, and we are quite ignorant as to its habits and mode of life.

THE BLUE-STRIPED LORY.

The BLUE-STRIPED LORY (_Lorius cyanostriatus_), which we have selected
as the subject of one of our coloured illustrations (Plate III.), may be
regarded as the type of the beautiful race to which it belongs. Its small
size, and comparatively feeble beak, the elevation of the tarsi, and the
diminutive claws, are eminently characteristic, as also is the somewhat
wedge-shaped tail. The prevailing colour of this species, like that of
the Lories generally, is a brilliant crimson, which pervades the entire
plumage, but is much relieved and set off by dark shadings of deep red,
almost approaching blackness, which cover the hinder part of the back,
overspread the extremities of the wings and tail, and vary the tints of
the wing-covers, producing a very rich appearance, which is still further
heightened by a row of feathers of ultramarine, wherewith the hinder part
of the neck is ornamented as with a sort of cape. The eyes are surrounded
by elongated patches of naked flesh-coloured skin, immediately behind
which the ear-feathers, of a brilliant ultramarine blue, are rendered
very conspicuous.

PASSERINE BIRDS (_Passeres_).

The Passerine order we understand to include the FINCHES and their
nearest relations, as also the Sparrows, and other families of similar
structure. These birds have been usually grouped together under the
name of CONIROSTRES, but as the adoption of this term would oblige us
to include the RAVENS (_Coracirostres_), we shall avoid it, considering
that the many peculiarities of the latter entitle them to be regarded as
forming an order by themselves.

The PASSERES, according to our definition, are rather small birds, the
largest among them not exceeding the size of a Starling. Their shape is
compact, the body strong, the neck short, the head thick, and the wings
of moderate length, with nine or ten quills upon the primary, and the
same number upon the secondary region of the wing. The tail is generally
long, and contains twelve feathers; the foot small, and what is termed
a _perching_ foot, three of the toes being in front and one behind.
The beak is thick and usually conical, occasionally hooked, and still
more rarely crossed. The plumage is generally thick, and the feathers
comparatively large and soft; their colouring is usually quiet; but this
is by no means invariably the case; all are, however, devoid of metallic
lustre, or possess it in a very trifling degree. There is a difference
observable between the male and female, not always dependent on the
plumage, the male being the finer bird; the young resemble the mother.
Many species moult twice in the year, so that at certain times their
plumage exhibits a more brilliant appearance than at others, owing to the
rubbing off of the outer edge of the feathers. The internal structure
of the body presents nothing unusual. Although the Passerine Birds are
unquestionably far below the parrots in capacity, they are intelligent,
acute, susceptible of being taught, and keen of perception.

Their flight is not so rapid as that of the smaller parrots, and consists
of a succession of undulating movements, which change into a hovering
motion when the birds are excited or about to alight. They can walk upon
the ground, but generally hop; and though the latter mode of progression
gives an air of awkwardness to some species, it contrasts favourably with
the waddling gait of the parrots. Many species are able to hop nimbly
among the twigs and branches of trees, but few can climb, and still fewer
possess the peculiar clinging powers of the woodpecker and other really
climbing birds. They prefer the neighbourhood of water, but none of them
are capable of swimming or diving.

The Passerine Birds are citizens of the world; they can endure the
climate of icy mountains and northern snows, and are met with in the
glowing regions of the tropics. Hills and valleys, woods or fields,
the reed-covered swamps or treeless plains, are equally tenanted by
various races, as is the crowded city or the barren desert. In all
these localities they will build their nests and educate their young.
Turn where we will, we see them--indeed, they are as much a part of
the landscape as the earth and sky. Notwithstanding the fondness they
exhibit for wooded countries, we can by no means venture to call them
_tree_-birds, as many species live exclusively upon the ground, and
all frequent it more constantly than even the parrots. Open country
near a wood is their favourite resort, and from thence they visit the
surrounding gardens and brushwood. They are found but in small numbers
either in deep forests, or on barren plains and mountains. Seeds, fruits,
birds, and insects form their usual nourishment, and but few appear to be
dainty in their selection. The Passeres are, almost without exception, of
a social disposition, and solitary birds are seldom seen; they live in
pairs during the breeding season, and keep together in parties throughout
the remainder of the year, these parties occasionally increasing until
they become large flocks. It is usual to find several different species
living together in this manner, and associating for many months; the
cleverest become the leaders of the rest, and are obeyed, perhaps we
should say imitated, by their little followers. Such are the flocks that
settle on our fields in autumn, after they have reared their young and
moulted their feathers. In the winter they generally establish themselves
in our farmyards and streets. Many species leave their homes annually,
and go southwards at the commencement of the winter; others only wander
or take occasional journeys, whilst some are stationary. Our part of the
world yearly receives a large number of guests from colder latitudes, in
exchange for the native birds that have left us to winter farther south.
During very severe weather, we are often visited by species from the far
north, that perhaps have not been amongst us for years, driven from their
home by a deficiency of the food that they generally find in their own
country. Some amongst them seem to pay so little regard to the change
of season that they will breed at any time of the year, and will carry
on the work of incubation exposed to the icy cold of a northern winter,
or the exhausting heat of the tropics. For the most part, however, they
recognise the arrival of spring, and, like the poets, are inspired with
their tenderest feelings during the month of May. At that season the
large flocks have dispersed, and each pair is intent upon the duties
inseparable from incubation to a degree that is seldom equalled by other
birds. Their beaks are then as frequently employed in doing battle with
jealous rivals, as in pouring out their songs of joy; their days are
divided between singing and fighting; they eat with haste, exhibiting the
greatest excitement in all they do. Each pair seeks a separate spot for
its own nest, driving away all other birds, so that breeding settlements,
such as we have elsewhere described, are rarely seen amongst them. The
nests of the Passeres are of different forms, and exhibit very various
degrees of skill in their construction. Sometimes they may be seen
hanging from, or placed upon, waving twigs or thick branches; sometimes
they are hidden among the foliage, or in holes of trees or fissures of
rocks, and they may often be found concealed under bushes, among reeds,
corn, grass, and even upon the ground. Their exterior is carefully
formed of twigs, grass, hay, lichens, moss, plant-cotton, and such like
materials, and is lined with softer fibres, moss, scraps of wool, hair,
and feathers. The brood commonly consists of from three to eight eggs of
various shape and colour, usually light blue or green, or yellowish grey,
with markings of various kinds. In most cases only the female sits upon
the eggs, and during the period of incubation she is fed by her mate, but
sometimes the two sexes share this duty and sit in turn, appearing to
rival each other in taking care of their little family. The young early
attain their full growth, and seldom need the attention of the parents
after they have left the nest, as they soon learn to seek their own food
and associate together in flocks, flying about over a limited extent of
country until the season for moulting arrives. The parents meanwhile
rear another brood, sitting sometimes thrice in the year, whilst others
breed but once in the twelve months. Many enemies pursue these small
and feeble creatures--indeed, some falcons feed entirely upon them;
those and their nightly pursuers, the owls, must be considered as their
most formidable foes, though monkeys, lemurs, cats, weasels, bears, and
shrew-mice, the tree-frequenting rodents, and some kinds of snakes, are
dangerous enemies; indeed, man himself cannot always be numbered among
their friends. On the whole, the damage done by Passerine birds is not
very serious, and some of them are inexpressibly useful by reason of
the enormous quantities of insects and seeds of noxious plants which
they devour; still, there is no denying that many species become very
troublesome, especially when they congregate in large flocks, and descend
upon ripe corn or fruit-trees, and we readily acknowledge that it cannot
be agreeable to have to entertain hundreds of thousands of these little
destroyers for weeks together.

Amongst the very numerous Passerine races, we find some that might be
called the PARROT-FINCHES, for the same reason that we call the little
"Love Birds" SPARROW PARROTS; indeed, the resemblance they bear to the
parrots is very striking, as is seen not only in the contour of their
body, but in its structure, as well as in their demeanour and peculiar
habits. Such, for example, are--

[Illustration: THE LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL (_Loxia pityopsittacus_).]

The CROSS-BILLS (_Loxiæ_), which, although but few species are known,
may be said to form a separate family. They not only differ from other
Passeres, but from all other birds, in the formation of their beak. This
very remarkable instrument is thick and strongly arched, its ridge or
culmen is high and rounded, the mandibles are broad at their origin, but
suddenly separate, and terminate in sharp points that are bent across
each other, the under-jaw being inclined sometimes to the right side,
sometimes to the left, without any general rule being observable in this
respect; there are, indeed, as many that have their beaks twisted to the
right as in the opposite direction. It is, moreover, specially noticeable
that the muscles moving the lower jaw are unequally developed on the two
sides of the head, an arrangement which must be considered as a necessary
consequence of the sidelong movements of the jaw. The head is large in
comparison with that of other finches, the body short, but slender and
high; the keel of the breast-bone is long and arched, resembling that
of the woodpeckers. The plumage is thick and soft, the wings of middle
length, narrow, and pointed; the tail-feathers strong, narrow, and short,
those at the side being considerably longer than those in the middle. The
tarsi and bones of the leg are bowed inwards, and are short and strong;
the toes long, with stout, curved, pointed claws. The eyes are small and
prominent; the nostrils round, placed close to the forehead, and almost
or entirely covered with hair-like feathers. The internal construction of
the body does not differ from that of other birds of this order.

Like most other species belonging to the Passeres, the Cross-bills live
in society, seldom leaving the woods, wherein they find fir-trees adapted
to their support. They cannot be said to have any fixed residence,
but are the gipsies of the feathered race; their home is anywhere and
nowhere. It is by no means easy to discriminate between the different
species of these birds, seeing that every extensive collection shows
us many varieties, strongly resembling each other. We may, however,
safely mention four different species belonging to Europe, and in the
mountainous districts of Asia and America we also find about that number;
all these, however, present not only the same general structure, but a
similar colouring of the feathers. The plumage of the old male bird is of
a beautiful vermilion or red-currant tint, while that of the young male
is of either a reddish yellow, gold, greenish gold, or red chalk colour.
The coat of the female is green, shaded into yellow or grey. The plumage
of the birds before moulting is a light grey, streaked with a darker
shade; the wings and tail-feathers are of a greyish black. The large head
and strong beak, bulky feet, and short tail, make them appear very stout
and clumsy, nevertheless they are really agile and rapid, flying quickly
and lightly, hovering before they perch, climbing nimbly about among the
branches, and are only awkward and out of place upon the ground.

THE LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL.

The LARGE-BEAKED CROSS-BILL (_Loxia pityopsittacus_), the largest of all
the Cross-bills with which we are acquainted, is from seven to seven
and a half inches in length, and eleven and a half to twelve inches
across the wings. The beak strongly resembles that of a parrot, and is
very thick and high, bent into a crescent, each mandible terminating
in a short hook. The prevailing colour in the plumage of the old male
is either a dark or light vermilion; the wing and tail covers greyish
black, edged with greyish red; the belly greyish white. The young male is
recognised by its light-reddish tints, which upon the back are mingled
with greenish yellow, and upon the rump with yellow. The female is dark
grey on the upper part of the body, and the feathers have a more or less
clearly defined edge of green or yellowish green. The under part of the
body is light grey, the feathers being edged with greenish yellow; the
wing and tail feathers are greyish black, dotted with greenish grey.

THE PINE-TREE CROSS-BILL.

The PINE-TREE CROSS-BILL (_Loxia curvirostra_), or FIR-PARROT, is a
somewhat weaker and more slender bird than the preceding. Its length is
from six to six and a half inches; its width across the wings ten and a
half to eleven and a half inches. This species is distinguished from the
foregoing by its longer and more delicate beak; the plumage of both birds
being similarly coloured.

THE BANDED CROSS-BILL.

Next to these we must mention the BANDED CROSS-BILL (_Loxia tænioptera_),
a much rarer species, smaller than the Pine-tree Cross-bill, and having
a still more delicate beak. It is distinguished by two white lines upon
the wings. We think it very probable that many other Cross-bills usually
mentioned as varieties ought really to be considered as constituting
distinct species.

The American and some of the Indian Cross-bills differ considerably
from such as are found with us. Those in America are remarkable for
the smallness of their size, and may be considered as the dwarfs of
the family. The Cross-bills always inhabit pine-forests, as their food
consists entirely of the seeds of the pine, fir, and larch; they are
consequently more numerous in the north than in the south, seeing that
in northern latitudes these trees are met with over a far wider extent
of country than elsewhere. They are seen almost annually in Germany, but
only when the seeds of the above-mentioned trees are ripe. When the cones
are abundant they visit in great numbers many places where they have
not been for years, appearing at irregular intervals, and not confining
themselves to any particular localities. Should the situation be
suitable, they will proceed at once to breed, otherwise they merely tarry
for a short time, and then pass on to a more desirable resting-place.
The most favourable spots in the woods are soon taken possession of to
serve as their head-quarters, from whence they fly over the surrounding
country, returning to settle upon the same trees in the evening. They
are very social, living in pairs in the breeding season, but even during
that period will sometimes associate in considerable numbers. Their
nests are made among the branches of fir-trees, and there they disport
themselves gaily, climbing nimbly, and assisting their movements, as
parrots do, with their beaks. They will hang for minutes together head
downwards, clinging to a twig or cone, seeming to enjoy this apparently
uncomfortable position. Their movements, when on the wing, are undulating
and rapid, but they never fly to any great distance. The pleasure they
experience in the society of their mate is often testified by fluttering
over the tops of the trees as they sing, after which they hover for
a time, and then sink slowly to their perch. In the daytime they are
generally in motion, with the exception of a short time at noon. During
the spring, summer, and autumn, they pass their time in flying from one
plantation or mountain to another. In winter, if the cold is extreme,
they remain much longer in their sleeping-place, only coming abroad after
the sun has warmed the earth, though they commence their song early
in the morning. At this season they make their first appearance about
ten o'clock, and are soon busily employed in search of food; about two
o'clock they become quieter, seek food again at four o'clock, and then
go to roost. The Cross-bill troubles itself but little about the other
inhabitants of the woods, and is almost fearless of man, whom it is very
evident it has not learnt to regard as an enemy. Should a female be shot,
its mate will remain sorrowfully perched upon the branch from which his
little companion has fallen; or again and again visit the spot where she
was killed in the hope of finding her; indeed, it is only after repeated
proofs of the treachery of mankind that he begins to testify any symptom
of shyness. When placed in a cage, the Cross-bills become exceedingly
tame, appearing entirely to forget the loss of their freedom, and grow
so fond of those they are with as to obey them in everything, allowing
themselves to be touched, or even carried about the room on the hand,
and demonstrating their confidence in a variety of ways, so that the
inhabitants of mountainous districts are usually much attached to these
gentle little creatures.

[Illustration: THE BANDED CROSS-BILL (_Loxia tænioptera_).]

The call-note of the Pine-tree Cross-bill, common to both sexes, is "Gop,
gop," "Gip, gip," "Yock, yock." This is uttered either whilst flying or
when at rest; and so gentle is its sound, that the listener must be quite
close to the tree in order to hear it; indeed, he might imagine the bird
to be at a considerable distance, till, on glancing upwards, he beholds
it perched just above his head. The cry of the Fir Cross-bill is shriller
and weaker than that of the Large-beak. Those who have heard both species
can scarcely mistake them. No sooner does one of them utter the sound of
"Gip, gip," than all the rest become attentive, and generally fly away
together, if the first bird sets the example; and if, whilst they are
eating, other birds pass by, their cry of "Gip, gip," is intended as an
invitation to join the party and partake of the meal. Should one be at
a distance from the rest, the almost incessant cry of "Gop" will bring
it back; it is also the signal for the whole flock to settle. This last
note is never uttered during flight. Whilst brooding, the Cross-bill
employs a gentle sound, not unlike the piping of a little chicken whilst
under the wing of the hen, and the young have a similar cry, mingled with
the call-note of the parent bird. The song of the male is very pleasing,
particularly that of the Pine Cross-bill; it consists of a cadence formed
of a variety of weak twittering low notes. These birds are to be heard
at their best when the weather is fine and warm, and are quite silent if
the day is windy or stormy; whilst singing, they perch on the summit of
the trees. The female has the same song as her mate, but it is somewhat
gentler and more confused. In captivity they sing throughout the year,
except during the moulting season. The food of the Cross-bill consists
almost exclusively of the seeds of the forest trees, in obtaining which
its strong crossed beak is of the greatest service, as it requires
considerable strength and much skill to break open the cones of the fir
and pine, in order to obtain the hidden seed. The bird perches upon a
cone with its head downwards, or lays it upon a branch, and stands upon
it, holding it fast with its sharp, strong, pointed claws. Sometimes it
will bite off the cone and carry it to a neighbouring bough, or fly with
great difficulty some ten or twenty paces to another tree where it can be
opened, for a suitable spot is not to be found on every branch. If the
cone is large, the little creature tears its way through the middle of
the outside with its upper mandible, inserts its half-opened beak, and
forces an opening by a sideway motion of the jaws; it is then easy for
it to pick out the seeds, which are soon swallowed. The breaking up of
the husks produces a cracking sound, that is heard very distinctly from
below. The cones are seldom completely emptied of their seeds, but are
thrown down to the ground when scarcely touched, or not more than half
cleared, so that the grass beneath the trees on which a party of these
creatures has been perched is often completely strewn with them. When,
however, there are no more to be gathered, the birds will seek and feed
upon those they have previously flung away. The Pine Cross-bill seldom
touches the far harder cones of other fir-trees, as it does not possess
strength sufficient to open them, though the Large-beaked species breaks
them without difficulty, and can at one stroke tear off all the husks
into the midst of which it has plunged its beak. A cone is thus rifled of
its contents in the space of two minutes, when it is immediately thrown
down and another taken. Should the Cross-bill not be disturbed, it will
remain for hours upon the same tree, and continue for weeks together in
one part of the country. As long as fir-cones can be found, it seems not
to care for other food; but if driven by hunger it will eat oily seeds
such as those of the hemp or thistle, or even insects, seeking for them
in the neighbouring gardens and orchards. These birds are cleanly in
their habits, preening themselves carefully after every meal, and rubbing
their beak for minutes at a time upon the branches, in order to cleanse
it. Still, it is not always possible for them to keep their plumage trim,
and their feathers are frequently covered with a coating of resin. The
feeding of the Cross-bills on the fir-cones has another very remarkable
result. Their flesh becomes so penetrated with resin that it will resist
putrefaction for a lengthened period. It acquires by exposure a peculiar
smell, but cannot be said to decay. We have made many experiments upon
this subject, and always with the same result; there is a specimen now
lying before us, which was shot during the extreme heat of last summer,
and still retains its feathers. We have even seen a mummy of this bird
which was twenty years old. That the resin imbibed is the only cause of
this peculiarity is proved by the fact that specimens which have lived
upon other diet for some time before their deaths, share the ordinary
fate of dead birds. The Cross-bills are at all times a great ornament to
our woods; but it is only in the winter, when the snow is on the ground,
that we appreciate their full beauty. At such times their brilliant
red forms may be seen perched on the dark green branches, and as the
white, snow-covered ground throws them into strong relief, the fir upon
which they rest presents the appearance of a vast Christmas tree. Their
appearance is rendered still more attractive by the circumstance that
they usually assemble to breed during the winter season; though they
will also lay eggs during other months of the year--as readily in the
height of summer as when the snow lies thick upon the branches, and all
other living inhabitants of the woods are silent. They seem to trouble
themselves but little about the change of seasons. At the breeding time
the pairs into which the flock separates, choose the finest trees in the
woods, whereon they make the cradles for their young, as near together as
possible. The male then perches himself upon the highest branch of the
most lofty tree, singing energetically, calling to his mate incessantly,
and turning himself in all directions, seeming to wish to exhibit himself
and his beauty to her in all points of view. If she, however, does not
answer his call, he flies to another tree and recommences his song.
Should she still linger, he chases her sportively from branch to branch,
uttering his piping cry; at such times the Large-beaked Cross-bill
accompanies these endeavours to attract the notice of his mate with a
peculiar fluttering of his wings, often rising into the air and then
settling again in the same place; these demonstrations continue till
about noon, when the building of the nest commences. This is made upon
some widely-projecting or forked branch, and is always situated so as
to be well covered by the twigs that hang over it, partly to guard the
little family from any snow that might fall, and partly for the sake of
concealment. The nest is most artistically constructed. It is formed
externally of pine twigs, and lined with feathers, soft grass, and the
needle-like leaves of the fir-tree. The walls are about an inch thick,
and strongly woven together, the interior being tolerably deep. All the
nests that we see in this country are thus constructed, and therefore
it is rather surprising to hear from Eckström, one of the first Swedish
naturalists, that in Sweden "the Large-beaked Cross-bill builds a round
nest, formed of twigs, interwoven with other materials, and of such a
large size that it is at least an ell in diameter; the entrance being
perfectly round, and so small that the bird can only pass in and out with
difficulty; while the interior is large enough to hold a man's fist.
The winter nests," as he tells us, "are built in this manner; those
for summer use are smaller, and have thinner walls." We mention this
statement, though we are by no means sure that it applies to the species
with which we are familiar. We had once an opportunity of observing a
female Cross-bill whilst building. She commenced by breaking off dry
twigs, and carrying them to the spot she had chosen for the nest, and
then flew in search of such scraps as she could find, carrying away a
whole beakful at a time, and laying them in their proper place. As soon
as the rounding of the exterior nest was accomplished, the bird got
inside and spent some time in pushing it with her breast and pulling
until it was somewhat in order. She took all the materials from a
neighbouring tree, and was so industrious that she continued her work
during the afternoon, only requiring from two to three minutes to prepare
and carry each load. The brood consists of from three to four rather
small eggs, of a greyish or blueish white colour, streaked with faint
blood red, reddish brown, or blackish brown spots; sometimes these spots
take the form of a wreath round the broad end of the egg, and sometimes
cover the whole of its surface.

[Illustration: CROSS-BILLS (Loxiæ).]

The careful mother nurses her young with the greatest attention, whilst
the male fulfils his task of tending her and supplying all her wants. The
nestlings are fed from the first day of their life on the seeds of the
fir or pine, softened in the crop of the old birds and half digested, but
after a short time they are able to take them without this preparation.
They rapidly attain their full size, and are active and lively, but
require parental attention for the lengthened period during which their
mandibles are not crossed, as until they are so the young are incapable
of opening cones for themselves. After leaving the nest, they seek
shelter in the thickest trees, in the vicinity of their parents, and
while the latter are procuring fir-cones, as above described, will cry
uninterruptedly, like naughty children, following the old birds hastily
should they leave the tree, or calling long and dismally until their
return. After a time they are taught to work, their parents commencing
by giving them half opened cones to practise upon, and afterwards such
as have only been bitten from the trees. When the young are quite
independent in this respect, they form fresh flocks, or associate
themselves with that of their parents.

It is easy to ensnare the Cross-bill if it is enticed to the ground
by the help of a tame bird. In some parts of Germany high poles are
prepared, covered with pine branches, in which limed twigs are concealed;
these are then placed in the upper parts of the woods, and a decoy-bird
fastened beneath them, which contrives to attract the attention of all
that fly over it, so that many perch upon the bushes and limed twigs; in
this manner numbers may be caught in the course of a morning.

We must leave it undecided whether a most remarkable species found in
the Sandwich Islands be reckoned among the Cross-bills or not. Many
naturalists have no hesitation in so placing it, though Reichenbach
believes it to be more nearly allied to the Honey-eaters, with whom our
readers will shortly be made acquainted, than to the Finches. This bird,
which we shall call the PARROT-GREENFINCH (_Psittirostra psittacca_),
appears to be even more of a connecting link between the Parrots and the
Finches than the Cross-bill or the Parrot-Bullfinch, as its two names
clearly express. In size it resembles our bullfinch, its length being
about six and three-quarter inches, and the length of the wings three and
a half inches. The plumage is of a beautiful parrot-green, intermixed
with grey upon the breast. The head and breast are of gamboge yellow,
the wings and tail-feathers edged with green, and the back and legs of a
black colour. We are entirely ignorant of such particulars of its life
and habits as might give us any assistance in decisively assigning this
bird to its proper place; it still may be numbered amongst our greatest
rarities, as but very few collections can boast of a specimen.

THE BULLFINCHES (_Pyrrhulæ_).

The BULLFINCHES are known by their short thick beak, arched in all
directions, while the upper mandible terminates in a small hook. Their
other characteristics are their short moderately strong legs and somewhat
soft plumage, the nature and colour of which vary considerably in the
different members of the family. These birds are found throughout the
whole world, with the exception of Australia; but they principally
frequent the temperate and frigid zones. They inhabit woods and bushes,
as well as mountains and deserts, and pass as much of their time upon
trees as upon the ground. Their food consists principally of corn, seeds
of various kinds, and green leaves and buds. Being eminently social,
they mingle freely with their congeners, and very soon become attached
to man. In their movements they are somewhat clumsy, and much behind
the Cross-bills in agility and beauty. Their song is very simple and
pleasing, and to this some add the gift of being able to learn and
imitate with great accuracy the notes of other birds. The nest is always
carefully hidden in trees or the clefts of rocks. The number of eggs is
from four to six.

THE PARROT-BULLFINCH.

The PARROT-BULLFINCH (_Paradoxornis flavirostris_) should, as its name
testifies, be assigned the first place in this family. This is a very
rare bird, and of striking appearance, inhabiting Southern Asia; it
has not the beak of the true Bullfinch, the upper mandible not rising
noticeably above the lower one, but curving outwards towards the sides,
as in some species of parrots. The wings are somewhat feeble and
decidedly rounded, the sixth quill being longer than the rest; the tail
is long, graduated, and strong; the legs and feet very powerful, the
toes of middle length, and the claws much bent. Its soft and flowing
plumage is of a greyish brown, somewhat lighter on the under parts of
the body, reddish brown on the back of the head and neck; the mantle
olive-coloured, with a band of deep black round the throat and over the
ear-covers; the face, skull, cheeks, and throat are white, spotted or
striped with a darker colour, and there are tawny tints upon the belly,
becoming redder upon the sides. The beak is of a brilliant yellow; the
feet leaden coloured, the eye reddish brown. In size this bird resembles
our common bullfinch, its length being about eight inches, three of which
belong to the tail. The wing measures three inches from the shoulder to
the tip.

All the varieties of Parrot-Bullfinch with which we are acquainted are
inhabitants of the Himalayas. Jerdon tells us that the species we have
just mentioned was seen by him in the Khana Mountains, at a height of
about 5,000 feet above the level of the sea; and it has been observed
by other travellers in Nepaul and Assam. "I found," he continues, "that
they feed upon a variety of seeds, and saw a female with two or three
young ones that strongly resembled her in colour; they were somewhat shy,
but did not hide themselves, merely flying from tree to tree." Another
species was found by the above-mentioned naturalist in the bamboo woods
of the hilly districts of Nepaul, Sikkim, and Butan, where they feed upon
all kinds of seeds. They flew about in small parties, and appeared to be
somewhat timid, allowing themselves to be watched, but seeking shelter
when pursued. We learn from Tickell that they readily devour corn, maize,
and rice. "After eating," says this writer, "they perch upon the branches
of the trees and bushes, and have no appearance of living a retired life,
as is the case with the Timalias. In some respects they resemble other
bullfinches."

We are happily much better acquainted with the second tribe of the same
family, the European species of which is named

THE PINE GROSBEAK.

[Illustration: THE PINE GROSBEAK (_Pinicola enucleator_).]

The PINE GROSBEAK (_Pinicola enucleator_) deserves our notice, as being
the largest of the Bullfinches. Its beak is vaulted on all sides, and
the upper mandible somewhat hooked, in this respect differing from
other finches; the margin is slightly curved, and the extreme tip of
the under mandible rather blunted. The legs are short and strong, the
toes powerful, the claws large, and the wings, when closed, seldom
reach beyond the first third of the tail; the latter is graduated to
the centre. The Pine Grosbeak resembles the Singing Thrush in size,
its length being from eight to nine inches, from three to three and a
half of which belong to the tail; the breadth across the wings varies
from thirteen to fourteen inches, and the wing measures four and a half
inches from the shoulder to the tip. The plumage is rich, and somewhat
straggling. In the old male birds, a pretty red shade predominates,
whilst those of a year old are somewhat yellower; the throat is of a
paler colour, and the wings marked with two crooked lines. The individual
feathers are ash-grey, blackish along the shaft, tipped at the end with
a red or reddish yellow, and dotted here and there in the middle with
a darker shade; the edges, on the contrary, are somewhat lighter, thus
producing a cloudy kind of marking. The wing and tail feathers are black,
bordered with a light shade, these borders being much more distinct upon
the shoulder-feathers. The beak is of a dirty brown, blackish at the
tip, the legs greyish brown, and the eyes dark brown. This bird inhabits
the northern countries of Europe and Asia, and in America there is a very
similar species. As far as we can ascertain, the Pine Grosbeaks live
during the summer alone, or in pairs, and only assemble during the winter
in flocks, that may be seen flying over the northern woods or frequenting
the solitary farms, returning at the commencement of spring to their
retreats in the forests. Should a heavy fall of snow occur and compel
them to migrate to more southern parts, the flocks will join each other,
and that often in very considerable multitudes.

In the years 1790-93-98, and 1803, such enormous swarms of these birds
appeared in the islands of the Baltic, that in the country about Riga
some thousands of pairs were caught weekly for a considerable time. They
were also very numerous in Russia during the winter of 1821, and have
been more recently seen in great numbers in various parts of Germany. We
have to thank these involuntary wanderers for nearly all the information
we possess concerning their habits, for we are but little acquainted with
their mode of life in their native wilds. Whilst with us, they fly about
in flocks during the day, eat in company, and settle in the evening all
together upon the same sleeping-place, their favourite haunts being the
pine forests, and they seem to prefer those in which the underwood is
composed of young juniper-trees. They do not frequent thick foliage, but
fly over barren plains as rapidly as possible.

When these birds first come amongst us they are harmless, confiding
creatures, who have not yet experienced the artifices of man, never
offering to stir if a stranger or hunter approach the trees on which they
are perched, and will stare at the gun destined for their destruction
without thinking of flight, even should one of their companions be shot
down from the same branch. Persons have tried successfully to catch them
by means of snares fastened to the end of poles, by the aid of which
they could be thrown over the heads of the birds; indeed, the clumsiest
kind of trap is all that is required to catch these unsuspicious little
wanderers. The most touching tales are told of the attachment of the
Pine Grosbeak to its mate. On one occasion, three out of a party of
four had been captured, when, to the astonishment of all, the fourth
crept into the net in order to share the fate of its companions. It
must not be imagined, however, that these birds are really foolish, for
experience soon teaches them its lessons, and they become distrustful,
shy, and cautious. In its habits the Pine Grosbeak often reminds us of
the Cross-bill; it is essentially a tree-bird, being quite at home upon
a branch, but uneasy and out of place upon the ground. It can climb
skilfully from one bough to another, hopping with ease to tolerably
distant branches. Its flight is rapid, and, like that of most finches,
rather undulating, and it hovers before perching. Its voice is flute-like
and expressive, resembling that of the bullfinch, and its song, which
may be heard throughout the whole of the winter, is very varied and
pleasing on account of its soft clear notes. In winter we do not hear
it in perfection, as it is then low and disjointed; but in spring, when
the male rouses all his energies to cheer his little mate, his tones
would satisfy the most fastidious critic; it sings during the clear light
summer nights of its native land, and is there called on that account
"the Watchman." This bird has many other good qualities, and, owing
to its gentle, confiding temperament, may be easily tamed if properly
treated. It becomes, in a few days, accustomed to confinement, taking
its food readily from the hand, and will allow itself to be stroked,
or even carried about the room, all the time testifying its happiness
and content. It is an interesting sight to see a male and female bird
in one cage, for their tenderness towards each other is extreme; but,
alas! in one point they are deficient--they do not survive the loss of
their freedom for any considerable length of time, and pine away rapidly,
especially when their keepers forget that these children of the north
must have fresh cold air, and foolishly confine them in hot rooms. The
birds that come to us prove themselves almost entirely insensible to
cold, and are lively and cheerful in the most severe winter weather.
If shut up in a warm, close chamber, they will climb uneasily around
their cage, open their beaks and pant, thereby showing how unbearable
and injurious they find the heat of such an unwonted climate. Under
favourable circumstances they will live for a year in confinement; but
their plumage does not retain its beauty after the first six months,
turning yellow and losing its brilliancy. It is best to keep them, even
during the winter, in an unwarmed room, or still better in a cage hung
outside the house. In its native state the Pine Grosbeak feeds upon the
seeds of the fir-trees, which it picks out of the open cones or gleans
from the ground. It will also eat many kinds of seeds or berries, and
looks upon green weeds and the buds of trees as dainties. Tame birds are
fed with linseed, rapeseed, and juniper or mountain-ash berries; they
require a considerable quantity of food, as they are large eaters. It
would seem that in summer they live extensively upon insects, especially
flies, and with these they probably feed their young.

We have but scanty knowledge of their manner of breeding. In one instance
that came under our notice, the nest was made in a privet-bush about four
feet high. It was very lightly built, and scarcely thicker than that of
a hedge-sparrow, the outer wall being formed of dry stalks of plants,
and the interior lined with horsehair. The brood consisted of four eggs
of a beautiful bright blue, tinted at the broad end with reddish brown,
and having a few chestnut-brown spots. In colour and marking they much
resemble those of the Cherry Hawfinch. Only the female sits upon the
eggs, but during her seclusion she is cheered by the song of her mate.

THE CARMINE GROSBEAK.

The CARMINE GROSBEAKS (_Erythrothorax_) differ from the preceding
principally by reason of the smaller size, and consequently inferior
strength of the beak, which is short, thick, somewhat bowed, vaulted, and
elevated slightly at the ridge, with a scarcely perceptible hook at the
tip. The feet are of moderate length and strong, the tail is tolerably
strong and excised, the wings somewhat long in proportion to the body,
the third and fourth quills being the longest. The magnificent crimson
which forms the principal feature in the plumage of the adult male,
distinguishes it from the female and from the young birds, whose colour
is a greyish brown, or brownish grey; the males may be numbered among the
most beautiful birds of the Passerine order.

THE ROSE BULLFINCH.

The ROSE BULLFINCH, or ROSE FINCH (_Erythrothorax roseus_) is seven
inches long and ten and a half broad. Its forehead is of a dazzling
whiteness, and the rest of a brilliant carmine red; the wings are of the
same colour, with two lighter stripes running over them; the under part
of the body is also of a bright red. In the young male bird the plumage
is of a reddish brownish grey, with dark streaks, and upon the wings
there are two clear reddish yellow stripes. The female resembles that of
the linnet. Rose Bullfinches were often seen by Radde upon the Bareja
Mountains. During the month of September they lived in small parties of
from six to twelve birds, but in winter they only flew about in pairs,
and towards the spring disappeared entirely. Plantations of oaks or
black birch-trees are generally preferred by these birds to any other
localities, though they are fond of frequenting well-wooded valleys.
About noon they separate and repose lazily and carelessly upon the
branches; but during the forenoon, whilst seeking food, they are always
active and on their guard against danger.

THE CARMINE BULLFINCH.

The CARMINE BULLFINCH, or RIBAND FINCH (_Erythrothorax erythrinus_)
is six inches long and ten inches across the wings. The wing and tail
feathers are deep brown, the upper part of the neck bright carmine, and
the breast white, marked with carmine red. The male of a year old and the
female resemble the female linnet. The Carmine Bullfinches inhabit woods
and districts covered with reeds in the north of Europe and Asia, and
are found in great numbers in Sweden, Finland, and Russia. According to
Jerdon, this species is also met with as a winter guest throughout India,
being seen very frequently in the north, but more rarely in the southern
parts of that country, principally inhabiting mountainous districts. "I
have," he says, "generally found this bird in the bamboo plantations;
indeed, it is called in the Telegu dialect the _Bamboo Sparrow_; it
also frequents gardens and thickets, and lives almost exclusively
upon the seeds of the bamboo and of various other plants." The Carmine
Bullfinch is often captured on account of its agreeable song: Radde met
with it on the Steppes and at Baikal, but more frequently on the banks
of rivers, and sometimes saw solitary individuals even at an altitude
of 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. We are not much acquainted
with the habits of this bird, but know that it prefers well-watered or
boggy plantations, and feeds upon various kinds of seeds, amongst which
we must no doubt include those of reeds, as it is principally met with
where beds of the latter are to be found. In its demeanour it reminds
us as much of a linnet as of a bullfinch. Its movements are light, its
flight undulating, and its call a clear piping note. Blyth tell us that
the "Tuti," as this species is called in India, has a weak, twittering,
but gentle and expressive voice, the sound of which is something between
that of a goldfinch and a linnet, while its call resembles that of the
canary. In Kamschatka its notes have been imagined to sound like the
Russian sentence, "_Tschewitschu widal--I have seen the Tschewitschu_,"
the Tschewitschu being a large kind of salmon, which is the most
highly-prized fish of that country, forming, as it does, a valued article
of food; so that the song of the Carmine Bullfinch is not only looked
upon as a herald of spring, but as announcing the blessings that she
brings in her train. The nest is built in clumps of willows or canes, and
always in the vicinity of water; it is formed of the stalks of plants,
straw, or fibrous roots, and is lined with wool or horsehair. The eggs
are larger than those of the linnet, and of a green colour, with red
spots spread most thickly over the broad end. Tame Carmine Bullfinches
are considered great curiosities; whilst writing, however, we are so
fortunate as to have a male of this species before us. When it first
came into our possession, the autumnal moulting was just commencing, and
continued until December, leaving the once beautiful creature with a dull
coat. Towards the middle of February it began to sing so charmingly as
quite to exceed all our expectations. Naturalists who have described the
notes of this bird have not by any means done it justice, for its song
may bear comparison with that of the most gifted Finches; its voice is
as melodious as it is copious. The call is uttered loudly, the actual
song, on the contrary, being very soft, reminds us of the tones of the
goldfinch, linnet, and canary. The habits of our tame bird are very
entertaining; it is constantly in motion, hops about its cage with much
alacrity, and will hang like a titmouse from the wires at the top. The
shyness it at first exhibited has quite disappeared, and it now greets
its acquaintance with a cry of recognition. It eats millet, canary-seed,
and ants' eggs, taking but few of the latter; nor does it seem partial
to green food. The Carmine Bullfinch is replaced in America by a similar
bird, and a species very closely allied to it is found in Arabia Petræa.

[Illustration: THE DESERT TRUMPETER (_Bucanetes githogeneus_).]

THE SIBERIAN BULLFINCH.

The SIBERIAN BULLFINCH (_Uragus Sibericus_) is remarkable from the
circumstance that, unlike most bullfinches, its tail is as long as its
whole body; the fourth tail-feather on each side being the longest, the
others graduating gently to the middle. The beak is of moderate size, and
the upper mandible slightly bent over the lower. The fourth quill of the
wing is longer than the rest. In colour the Siberian Bullfinch resembles
the Rosefinch; the plumage of the old male is almost entirely of a rose
colour, darker on the back, owing to the prominent marking of the shafts
of the feathers. The head and throat are whitish, and of satin-like
brilliancy, particularly after the moulting season. The lower part of
the body is very brilliant, being of a bright carmine-red, and the beak
is surrounded by a line of the same hue. The individual feathers are
dark grey, lightly edged with pale carmine, and the wings and tail are
also vividly tinted with the latter colour. The small upper wing-covers
and shoulder-feathers are white upon the tip and outer web, or bordered
with white, giving the closed wing the appearance of being white, marked
with a crooked line of grey. The three external tail-feathers are also
white as far as their dark shaft, and a dark border on the inner web,
which becomes broader towards the middle of the tail, the feathers in
the centre being merely edged with white. The female is of an olive or
greyish green. The Siberian Bullfinches inhabit the marshy, reed-covered
districts of Northern Asia. In the autumn they congregate in parties of
from ten to thirty, and fly about uttering a monotonous piping note.
In Irkutsck these birds assemble in great numbers during the month of
September, and many are captured by bird-fanciers; but they entirely
lose their vivacity when in a cage, and do not long survive. In Oron the
Siberian Bullfinch is found in company with the Bohemian Chatterer; large
flocks are also seen in the Bareja Mountains about the end of September.
The flight of this species is somewhat undulating, and produces a buzzing
sound.

We are far better acquainted with the next bird that we shall describe--a
most splendid and interesting member of the family of Bullfinches. It
inhabits Africa, but frequently makes its way into Central Europe.

THE VINOUS GROSBEAK.

The VINOUS GROSBEAK, or, as it is sometimes called the DESERT TRUMPETER
(_Bucanetes gilhagincus_), is met with both in Egypt and Nubia, where
we have killed many specimens; but for all this we cannot pretend to as
intimate an acquaintance with it as Bolle, who has made it the subject
of one of his most animated descriptions. We much regret that our space
does not admit of its insertion at full length, and we must, therefore,
present it to our readers much curtailed, and intermixed with such
observations of our own as are likely to add force to his statements.
"Far beyond the fruitful coast of North-eastern Africa, and far beyond
the Atlas Mountains, we find a new kingdom lying in the desert occupied
by few but strange inhabitants. All is not dead and silent in this
dreary waste, nor are its waves of sand for ever untouched except by
the breath of the death-bearing simoom. It has its wells, where the
feet of the caravan have made their path, its little oases, sheltered
by the clustering palm, and its valleys rich in brooklets filled with
water collected from the winter rains. Within the heart of the Sahara,
and not merely on its borders, we occasionally find deep glens planted
with the tamarind and mimosa, and the most unlikely places, at certain
seasons of the year, produce plants peculiar to the desert. Even in these
dreary regions, where vegetation struggles with difficulty through the
sun-burnt soil, we need not seek in vain for animal life. This immense
expanse, extending, as it does, from the Euphrates to the Senegal, has
been branded by nature as an unfruitful wilderness, and all its living
inhabitants are formed to harmonise with the desolate plains that they
inhabit." We will not follow Bolle through all his illustrations of the
suitability of the creatures found in the desert to the localities in
which they are placed, but will proceed at once to his description of the
Desert Trumpeter. "The Desert Trumpeter, the 'STONE BIRD' of the Arabs,
the 'MOROS' of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, is a lively and
beautiful bullfinch, of about the size of our canary bird. Its body is
compact, and its scarlet beak, owing to its parrot-like shape, appears
somewhat thick, but not sufficiently so to interfere with the elegance
of its form. The feet are remarkably delicate for a creature that passes
so much of its time upon the stony ground. The plumage is comparatively
rich, the bridal attire of the old male bird being a mixture of rose-red
and satin-like white feathers, the former colour increasing in extent
and depth of hue as the bird becomes older; it is darkest in the spring,
when the plumage is of a deep rich crimson. These colours, however,
become much paler towards the autumn, at which season the tints of the
male closely resemble those of the female, whose coat is of a dull
yellowish red. Many varieties of shade are seen in this species, some
males presenting the appearance of having been dipped in blood, whilst
others are of a greyish hue. The red colour is not confined to the
plumage, but spreads over the whole body, so that a Desert Trumpeter,
when plucked, might properly be termed a little _Red-skin_! During
the spring the top of the head and neck are a pale ash-grey, with a
brilliant gloss, the shoulders and neck being a brownish ash-grey, with
a reddish tinge produced by the red-coloured borders of the feathers.
The large wing-covers are pale brown, edged with bright rose colour, and
carmine red on the outer web. The female is of a brownish grey over the
whole of the upper part of the body, and on the lower parts light grey
marked with red; the belly is of a dirty white." Those who would become
acquainted with the home of this species must wander into the desert to
which it properly belongs. Bolle found it breeding on the Canary Islands,
principally upon the most eastern, namely Lanzarote, Fuerta-ventura, and
the Great Canary. We ourselves have met with it all over the greater part
of Upper Egypt and Nubia, as far even as the Steppes, where it entirely
disappears. We also found it in the desert parts of Arabia. From these
regions this bird has been known to reach the Greek Islands, and even
Provence and Tuscany. In Malta it may frequently be seen during the
winter. The places frequented by the Desert Trumpeter are barren spots
exposed to the hottest rays of the sun; it prefers arid and stony places,
where scorching heat blazes down upon the burning rock, and seems to
luxuriate in glare and dazzling brightness that are perfectly blinding
to the traveller upon these treeless wastes. The favourite haunts of the
Desert Trumpeter yield but few blades of parched, dry grass, and the
stunted shrubs to please its taste must be few and far between. On such
a spot it delights to dwell, hopping from stone to stone, or gliding
along near the ground on noiseless wings. It is seldom possible to follow
the course of this bird to any distance, for the reddish grey of its
plumage blends as perfectly with the surrounding stones and leafless
shrubs as do the paler tints of the young with the colour of the sand,
tufa, or chalk. To this difficulty is added that of the dazzling and
deceptive play of light so common in these deserts, which teaches us to
appreciate the delightful relief that grass and foliage afford to the
weary eye. We should soon lose the object of our pursuit were it not
for its voice, which constitutes its most remarkable feature, and will
prove our best guide in this search. Hark! a sound like that of a tiny
trumpet is ringing through the air; it swells and trembles, and if our
ear is acute enough we shall find that this strange clang is preluded
or followed by a few light silvery tones, which fall, bell-like, upon
the desert silence, much resembling almost inaudible notes struck upon a
musical glass by an invisible hand. At other times the sound it produces
is extraordinarily deep, and not unlike that made by the tree-frog of the
Canary Islands, consisting of a few harsh notes rapidly repeated, and
which, strangely enough, are answered by the little creature itself, the
second sound being produced by a sort of ventriloquism, and appearing to
come from some distance. Few things are more difficult than to attempt
to render the note of a bird through the medium of our alphabet, and
in this case it would be particularly so, for the voice of the Desert
Trumpeter consists of tones entirely different from those to which we
are accustomed, and must be heard before it can be imagined. No one
would expect to find a singing bird in such localities as those above
described, and the fantastic voice of this creature appears well suited
to the places it inhabits. The cry mentioned above is often followed by
a succession of crowing, rattling sounds, which, like its trumpet-call,
seem by their strangeness so completely in unison with the surrounding
scenery, that we always stood to listen to them with pleasure, and wished
to hear them recommence. In such places as are entirely covered with
moving sands the Desert Trumpeter is never met with, as it is not fitted
like a Curlew or Courser to run with ease over loose ground; it frequents
the barren lava streams upon which not a blade of grass could grow,
and in such fissures and holes as these places offer it finds a hiding
or resting place, but is never seen upon a shrub or tree. In inhabited
districts the Desert Trumpeter is very shy, only seeming to have full
confidence when surrounded by silence and solitude; but in its native
haunts the young may be often seen perched close beside their parents,
and when a traveller approaches them they only acknowledge his presence
by staring calmly in his face with their bright little black eyes.
These birds may generally be met with all along the rocky shores of the
Nile, and from the valley of that river as far as the desert. In the
northern and middle parts of Nubia they alight upon the ground in parties
consisting of fifty to sixty, or fly over and about the rocks; indeed,
the steeper and more rugged these latter are the more attractive they
appear to be.

The food of the Desert Trumpeter consists almost exclusively of different
kinds of seeds, with probably a small quantity of leaves or buds. Water
is an indispensable requisite. However troubled, scanty, or lukewarm
the spring may be, these birds will visit it at least once in the day,
so that their appearance is ever a welcome sight to thirsty travellers.
They are always seen at the spring, both morning and evening, drinking
much and in long draughts, and frequently bathing in shallow water. The
breeding season commences in March, at which time the male has donned
his gala dress, and, with his chosen mate, has separated himself from
the flock; the little couples may very frequently be found perched
sociably near the clefts of the rocks, whilst through the air rises the
protracted trumpet-like call of the male, and the lark-like note of the
female. We saw a pair of these birds upon the banks of the Nile, busily
carrying away materials for their nest, but were unable to discover what
they consisted of, as the rocks on both sides of the stream offered far
too secure a brooding-place to allow us any chance of finding them; we
learned, however, from the goat-herds that the Desert Trumpeter builds in
the clefts and fissures of the blocks of lava, or under large overhanging
stones. The nest, we were told, is artistically constructed of large
blades of grass found in the desert, and lined with wool or feathers; in
this the three eggs that constitute the brood are laid. It is probable
that these birds breed twice in the year, and that they only again join
the flocks amongst which their young ones are already numbered, when
their parental duties are accomplished. During the autumn and winter
they wander to a considerable distance, appearing even in the Canary
Isles, and some instances have been known of their falling exhausted
upon the deck of ships, that were passing in that neighbourhood. They
are never molested by man, and were there no such creatures as Wild Cats
and Ichneumons, Falcons or Kites (the latter being very destructive to
them in their winter flight through the desert), these remarkable birds
might live an undisturbed and happy life. The naturalist may, with
care, capture them while drinking, and as many as heart can desire may
be obtained from among the stones. It is, however, difficult to take
them alive, as a decoy of the same species is indispensable for the
purpose. The latter should be fastened in some desert place, or on the
borders of a stubble-field, as far from trees or bushes as possible, in
such localities as they are known to frequent. The decoy-bird instantly
commences uttering its incessant call, and soon attracts large numbers
of its wild companions, who alight and hop, as though dancing from one
stone to another; they will linger for a moment at a distance, but come
near enough to be recognised by their plumage and the brightness of their
eyes; next they begin to peck up the food that is strewn about, and a
few hours later behold them captives in the net. At first the little
prisoners are wild and defiant, but soon become tractable, and eat the
canary-seed laid before them. The sport of catching these birds is one
that we have fully enjoyed, and may boast our skill in this respect.
What could be more exhilarating than an expedition, net in hand, during
the early morning, through those boundless plains, when, after a short
concealment behind a mass of rock, we emerge to find our labours so
richly rewarded? We brought ten Desert Trumpeters with us to Germany, and
feel fully entitled to speak as to their qualifications as domestic pets.
On their passage home we had a terrible storm, that lasted for many days,
and during the whole of that time the birds, in defiance of the cold,
continued to pour out their song.

The fact above recorded shows the Moros to be hardy, much-enduring birds,
which, though they love to seek shelter in a warm corner, can endure a
considerable degree of cold. Even in this severe climate they may be
kept in the open air from April to October, although they should not be
exposed to frost. Our own are very social, and fond of expressing their
confidence by the cheerfulness of their song--indeed, that of the male
may be heard late into the autumn and winter. Unlike other birds kept
in a room, they are most lively in the evening; no sooner is the lamp
lighted than the little captives begin to trumpet forth their cry. The
concerts with which we are entertained at these times are most amusing.
The performance begins with their loud and clear trumpet-call, changing
gradually into the protracted droning sound that mainly constitutes
their song; after which they give utterance to a variety of noises, some
of which are not unlike the mewing of a cat. At another time they will
commence with light clear notes, resembling those of a little silver
bell, and these are succeeded by an entirely different cry, which we
might compare to the song of a Bunting. Their quavering call is usually
followed by one much deeper and rapidly uttered, and their changes of
temper are expressed by various tones, which are poured forth with great
point and expression. The Moros are rarely heard to chatter amongst
themselves, as do the smaller kinds of parrots, but merely employ a sound
not unlike the cackling of a hen three or four times repeated, and their
cry when alarmed or surprised is quite peculiar. Should any one attempt
to catch them, they quaver forth a piteous sound, so full and expressive
that we are astonished that it can be produced by so small a creature.
The sound to which we allude is uttered with the head laid back and the
beak wide open, while the gentler notes, on the contrary, are produced
with the beak closed. During their song, and particularly in the breeding
season, these birds accompany themselves with a variety of the most
comical movements, dancing about their companions, and chasing each other
with great zeal. It is not unusual to see the male bird, with its body
erect and outspread wings, looking like the strange figures we employ as
armorial bearings.

When caged, the Moros still appear to prefer living upon the ground, over
which they hop rather than walk, and here they usually pass the night.
They will often conceal themselves, but never creep into holes that
have a narrow entrance. When a party of them is engaged in preening and
expanding their feathers in the sun, the spectacle they afford is very
striking and beautiful. Unfortunately, in captivity their plumage soon
loses its magnificent red colour, but, despite its loss, they always
present a pleasing appearance. The Desert Trumpeter should be fed, like
others of its species, upon seeds, in the choice of which it is far from
dainty, though it prefers hemp or millet, and will also eat the green
heads of the dandelion, the seeds of which it picks out most dexterously;
neither does it refuse ears of corn nor the leaves of some plants, such
as lettuce, cabbage, &c.; but it will not eat insects, with the exception
of the pupæ of ants. In fact, it is by no means particular as respects
diet, and is very easily reared. The Moro will frequently breed in
captivity, and with a little care and patience may be completely tamed;
it does not require any artificial warmth, for the scorching days and icy
cold nights of the Sahara seem to render it indifferent to any change of
temperature.

Should the Moro be separated from its species it will seek the society
of other birds, and we have known a case in which a Desert Trumpeter
mated with a small pigeon (_Columba passerina_) of twice its own size.
For the construction of the nest it prefers a cage that is hung up at
some height, the bars of which are rather wide apart, and will only
build with straw, which they collect by beakfuls at a time, but utterly
reject hay or moss as unfit for the purpose. The interior is lined with
feathers. The male bird carries some of the materials to the nest, but
it is constructed almost entirely by the female. The pair we observed
spent some time inside, one entering as the other left, and they appeared
occasionally to have considerable difficulty in managing the conveyance
of some of the long straws, with which they grappled. Our birds laid
their first egg in April, and another was daily added till there were
four. The mother, who but rarely left the nest, would probably have sat
upon her brood, had we not determined to sacrifice half her stock on
the altar of science. The remaining two eggs we placed in the care of a
canary that was an excellent sitter, and brought her young charges out
of the shell within a fortnight of their being placed under her. The
nestlings were by no means so unsightly as those of singing birds usually
are, and were covered with a thick, fine, white down, which formed a sort
of crest upon the head; the bare places on the neck, &c., were of a flesh
colour. In spite of the care taken of these young birds they died when
but a week old, and that without having grown much larger. Our Desert
Trumpeters soon proceeded to lay a second supply of eggs, and from the
third to the fifth of May were employed in the construction of another
nest, which, however, was not completed, as the little couple preferred
returning to their old home, after having put it thoroughly into repair.
On the ninth of May the first of three eggs was laid, but the female
became sickly, and, though we left her in quiet possession of her stock,
would not brood, but flew about the room with streaming plumage, as
though in search of some remedy that was suggested by her instinct, but
unattainable in captivity. During this time the male bird kept faithfully
by the side of his little mate, and after her death was inconsolable for
many days. The eggs are somewhat large considering the size of the parent
bird, and of a light sea-green, or even paler shade, sprinkled over with
a few reddish-brown spots or streaks, which sometimes form a kind of
wreath round the broadest end. This marking is occasionally varied by
delicate streaks, zig-zag lines, or large spots arranged in a somewhat
undulating manner, and placed principally over the most uniformly tinted
portion of the egg. It is much to be regretted that the excellent
capabilities of the Moro have not yet attained for it the place it merits
among our domestic pets, and that no European traveller has as yet given
particular attention to supplying us with living birds.

The Bullfinches we are next about to describe differ from those already
mentioned in the inferior richness of their plumage, which is neither so
varied nor so bright in its hues, although beautifully marked. Amongst
them we number

THE BULLFINCH.

The BULLFINCH (_Pyrrhula vulgaris_) is called also by the names of Blood,
Red, Gold, Flame, and Leaf-finch, Red-fighter, Red-bird, and others too
numerous to mention, for its titles would really occupy more space than
we could afford for their enumeration, many being descriptive of its
habits, others derived from the markings and colours of its plumage. This
species is from six to seven inches long, and from ten and a half to
eleven inches across. The length of the wing is three and a half inches,
and the tail measures two and a half inches. The old male is of a rich
deep black upon the throat, wings, and tail, and ash-grey upon the back;
the rump is white, and the rest of the lower part of the body a bright
red. The female differs from the male in the greyish colour of the lower
part of the body, and the smaller proportion in which bright tints are
found among her feathers. The young ones are without the black mark
upon the head. The wing is at all ages striped with two greyish-white
bands that run in the direction of the carpal joint. Some varieties are
white, black, or speckled. Bullfinches are found throughout all the
countries of Europe, though during the winter they usually frequent the
most southern parts of the continent, preferring such places as abound
in woodlands, and never visiting the more open districts except during
their passage to another locality--indeed, these birds never quit the
woods except compelled to do so in search of food, and it is only when
the snow appears that they leave their shelter to visit the orchards,
fields, or gardens of the surrounding villages, and seek such berries
and seeds as have escaped the observation of the rest of their feathered
relations. For the greater part of the year, these little songsters live
in pairs, but during their short excursions they congregate in small
flocks, which fly about the neighbourhood on the most amicable terms.
At the commencement of their raids upon the country none but male birds
are of the party, but these are afterwards joined by the female portion
of the community. It is only under peculiar circumstances that they
travel beyond their native land, and are therefore but rarely seen in
the south of Spain or Greece. They pass their time in flying from one
tree to another, only alighting upon the ground when driven to do so by
dire necessity. Their habits are very cheerful, and calculated to render
them favourites with all who observe them attentively. One of the most
distinguishing characteristics of these creatures is their attachment
to each other. Should one of them be killed they cannot endure to leave
their companion on the ground, and make every effort to take the body
with them. This habit is the more striking when the party consists of
only a few birds, and has frequently quite touched our heart. On one
occasion in particular, we had shot one of two males that were perched
upon a hedge; the other immediately flew away to a considerable distance,
but very shortly afterwards we saw it return to the spot upon which its
little associate had fallen.

The Bullfinch hops over the ground in a somewhat ungainly manner, but
is most adroit in its movements upon trees. Sometimes it will rest upon
a branch with its body in a horizontal position and its feet stretched
out, and at others will perch bolt upright, or hang head downwards from
the twigs. Its long and fleecy feathers are but rarely laid close down
upon its sides, thus causing it to seem much larger than it really is.
Whilst eating or flying it presents a somewhat more compact appearance,
but when in a cage always allows its plumage to droop about its body.
A tree full of these birds is a very pretty sight, the red colour on
their breasts being seen to great advantage among the green foliage, and
in winter their bright plumage contrasts prettily with the snow. The
Bullfinch does not exhibit much sensibility to cold, and is lively and
cheerful even during our most severe winters, always of course supposing
that it can find sufficient food; such powers of endurance are easily
explained if we consider the thickness of its feathers, and this density
of plumage has considerable influence upon its flight, which is slow and
undulating, much resembling that of the Chaffinch, owing to its habit of
alternately extending and shutting its wings; it will sometimes hover in
the air, and then plunge suddenly with closed pinions upon the selected
spot. The call-note is a plaintive cry, employed by both sexes, generally
uttered when flying, or about to perch or quit their resting-place,
and is capable of a considerable variety of expressions--another proof
of the delicate organisation possessed by these interesting birds; for
sounds which to our grosser ears appear almost identical, have to them
innumerable significations. The song of the male is in no way peculiar,
and somewhat harsh; it may be heard almost throughout the entire year.
Seeds of trees and grasses constitute the principal food of this species,
and it will also devour the kernels of fruit. The seeds of fir and
pine trees are obtained by picking them from the ground, as the little
creature is unable to rob the cone of its contents, though it can extract
the stones from fruit with great dexterity, throwing away the outer part
as unfit for food. Its presence upon a tree is often indicated during
the winter by the quantities of refuse thus disposed of. Grains of sand
are always necessary to this bird, in order to assist digestion; the
young are fed principally upon insects. In Europe the Bullfinch makes
its nest by preference in such retired spots as are well covered with
trees, though it will occasionally settle in parks or large gardens, and
we have heard of an instance in which a little pair built in the ivy
that surrounded the lodge of a gentleman's seat. The nest is usually
placed at no great distance from the earth, either in the forked branch
of a low bush, or on the ground, snugly supported against the trunk of a
tree; indeed, so invariably do they choose these situations, that their
nests have never been found at any considerable height. In its general
construction the little dwelling resembles that of the Greenfinch, being
formed externally of small portions of fir, birch, or pine twigs, upon
which a second layer, composed of fibres from various roots, is placed,
and this again is lined with the hair of the deer or horse; sometimes
a little wool is mixed with the horsehair. In May, from three to four
small, round, smooth eggs are deposited in the nest; they are of a
light green, or greenish-blue colour, covered with pale violet or black
spots, and reddish-brown dottings that form streaks or lines. The female
sits upon her brood for about a fortnight, and is tended by her mate
during that time; both parents combine in the care of their offspring.
The nestlings are fed at first upon insects, then with seeds that have
been softened in the crop, and afterwards with the same in their natural
state. Should there not be a second brood, the young remain for a long
time under parental tuition.

[Illustration: FEMALE BULLFINCH AND NEST.]

Those who wish to rear these birds should take them from the nest while
still unfledged, and the sooner their education commences the more
profitable it is likely to be. In the woods around Thüringen hundreds
of young Bullfinches are caught annually, and sent, when properly
educated, to the principal capitals of Europe, and even to America. The
course of instruction begins from the first day of their capture, and
the principal thing that is necessary is that their instructor should
be able to whistle the air he is teaching them with great clearness and
precision. Persons have tried to teach these little birds to sing with a
hand-organ, but with little success, for even the flute cannot produce
a sound so delicate as that uttered by the lips of a good whistler.
Some Bullfinches can learn to sing two or three tunes without any great
difficulty, whilst others never acquire precision. Some will retain a
tune during their whole life, and others again forget it entirely during
the moulting season. The voice of the female is much inferior to that
of her mate. We have often heard the Redpoll and the Blackbird pipe
extremely well, but these do not approach the Bullfinch in the purity,
flexibility, and fulness of its notes. It whistles in such flute-like
tones that the listener's ear is never weary. A friend of ours possessed
a bird of this species, which he had reared and trained himself. The
cage was hung quite low, so that visitors could approach. When its owner
wished it to sing a tune that it had learnt with great exactness, he went
to the cage, called his favourite by name, bowed three times, and each
time was answered by the bird with great liveliness and joy. After the
third salute the little creature commenced its exquisite song, singing it
perfectly, and then pausing to receive its master's bow of satisfaction,
exhibiting at the same time signs of much delight if praised for its
efforts. One circumstance in this performance was remarkable: it would
respond to and perform, after receiving the necessary salutes from any
_man_, but utterly refused to obey the signs or commands of a lady. A
female relation of its owner tried to entrap the bird, by putting on its
master's hat before approaching the cage; but this device was useless,
the ungallant little songster proved as obstinate as ever. To such a
point of cultivation as this the Bullfinch seldom attains, except taken
very early from the nest, and placed where no other sounds are heard
until the desired air is acquired, as it can imitate many noises with
facility. We ourselves have heard one whose song was compounded of a
portion of a tune, the chirp of a sparrow, and the crowing of a cock.

[Illustration: THE GIRLITZ (_Serinus hortulanus_).]

Few birds are to be found so suitable for our drawing-rooms as the
Bullfinch; it shows great attachment to those whom it likes, and is
evidently conscious of either reproof or praise. Leury mentions a
Bullfinch of his own, that testified great pleasure whenever a poor man
out of the neighbouring village where it had lived entered the room,
and was quite uneasy if it heard a voice at the door which it knew and
recognised; indeed, we have known instances where these birds have died
in consequence of too much excitement. A lady friend of ours had a
Bullfinch so tame that she allowed it to fly about the room, and was in
the habit of lavishing caresses upon it. One afternoon, being somewhat
busy, her little companion did not receive the customary attention, for
which he clamoured so loudly that his mistress at length hastily caught
him, replaced him in the cage, and covered it with a cloth; the poor
little creature was no sooner treated in this manner than he uttered a
few plaintive notes, as though imploring for notice and freedom, and
then, hanging his head, fell dead from his perch upon the floor of
the cage. An exactly opposite case was related by a gentleman of our
acquaintance. The narrator took a journey, and, during his absence,
his Bullfinch appeared very mournfully silent; on the master's return,
however, the bird was overwhelmed with delight, flapped its wings, and
fluttered up and down, bowed its tiny head repeatedly, as it had been
taught to do, at the same time pouring forth a song of welcome; suddenly
all was silent--the little favourite lay at the bottom of its cage dead
with joy. If trained while young, the Bullfinch may be allowed to fly in
and out at will, and Leury gives us an interesting example of this fact.
During the spring he let a female Bullfinch, that he had had for a year
under his care, out into his garden, and for many days afterwards the
bird would fly about, returning occasionally to the house, but at last
disappeared entirely until the following autumn; when lo! one morning
she flew into the sitting-room, as tame as ever. The following year she
was again set at liberty, and returned in the month of June with four of
her young ones, apparently as confiding as before, and most desirous to
persuade the little brood to consider her late master as a friend; but
these endeavours proving fruitless, she again left, and in September once
more made her appearance with three of her second family. She remained
for a short time, and then departed; but positively came back late in
the autumn without her little flock to pass the winter in her old home.
The following spring she was set at liberty for a third time, and was
observed not long after to enter her cage, peck up some of the food it
contained, whilst her mate lingered upon a neighbouring tree, and then
flew away and was seen no more.

These various little anecdotes will, we think, justify our assertion
that the Bullfinch is well worthy of our regard and attention. As to the
care it requires, give it a nicely-kept, roomy cage, water to bathe in,
and a little rapeseed, and all its wants are satisfied. A small quantity
of green-stuff may also be added, and on this fare a little couple of
Bullfinches may even be persuaded to undertake the cares of a family.

The capture of this species is attended with no difficulty, as its social
habits render it an easy prey. Naumann tells us that any one who can
tolerably imitate its call-note may entice it to the spot upon which a
snare is awaiting it; indeed, a live decoy-bird is scarcely needed, as a
stuffed specimen placed near the traps or limed twigs will answer every
purpose, attracting the unsuspecting creatures in great numbers. In our
opinion, to shoot a Bullfinch would be a crime; although it is true that
it occasionally becomes somewhat troublesome by picking off the buds
from the trees, yet, in spite of this, we hope that our readers will
allow that its many pleasing qualities make ample amends for any of its
troublesome propensities. Besides, in pleading for mercy, we must not
forget that its enemies are already sufficiently numerous; martens and
weasels, squirrels and dormice, hawks, sparrow-hawks, and falcons, crows
and jackdaws, destroy both old and young, and materially limit their
increase; many likewise perish during severe winters.

THE GIRLITZ.

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.

THE CANARY.

The CANARY (_Dryospiza Canaria_). Three centuries have elapsed since the
CANARY-BIRD first left its native isles to become a citizen of the world,
and now who could recognise in our beautiful golden little favourite the
wild green species from which it is descended? The change reminds us of
the difference sometimes observable between two brothers, one of whom
has experienced all the advantages of society and cultivation, while the
other has remained in his rustic but perhaps happier position. It is to
Bolle we are indebted for the first reliable history of the Canary in
its wild state, as until his time we were only acquainted with the tamed
species. The writers of former times have given us many examples of this
bird, but their accounts have bordered somewhat upon the marvellous. They
were even mistaken as to its original haunts. The naturalists of the
last century were somewhat better informed, but even Buffon has assisted
in the spread of erroneous ideas concerning its history. "Goldfinches
and Citronfinches," says Bolle, "must be contented to descend from the
position they have hitherto occupied as supposed progenitors of the
Canary. Buffon tells us that the Canary belongs to the same species
as the two above-mentioned birds, and has only changed in colour from
difference of climate. Humboldt was the first who could speak with any
authority as having seen the Canary in its wild state, having become
acquainted with it in 1799, during his residence in Teneriffe." More
modern ornithologists have been far from giving this bird the praise
it deserves, and we have to thank Bolle alone for so beautiful and
exhaustive a description of its life and habits, that nothing more
remains to be desired. The following account is drawn from his work.

[Illustration: THE WILD CANARY.]

The writer we quote found this species occupying the seven wooded islands
called the Canaries, and even some parts of Madeira, the latter fact
leading him to suppose that this bird may have lived upon all these
islands before their trees were cut down. It is principally to be met
with in such places as are covered with wood or shrubs, and are situated
near springs of water in the interior, which in summer form brooks,
margined during the entire year by a border of delicate plants; it is
also found in the gardens and houses of the inhabitants, and is quite as
numerous in crowded towns as in the quietest nooks--indeed, it is seen
in all parts, even at an altitude of 5,000 or 6,000 feet above the level
of the sea, except in the thick damp forests formed by laurel and holly
trees, beyond the borders of which Bolle never observed it to settle. It
may be also frequently met with in the vineyards, or in fir plantations
that cover rocky declivities. It is at present uncertain whether this
bird occupies the high ground during the winter, but it has been found
at an altitude of 4,000 feet late in the autumn. The wild Canary, which,
even in its native woods, is called "Canario" both by the Spaniards and
Portuguese, is considerably smaller, and usually more slender than these
we see tamed in Europe. Those, on the contrary, which are kept in a
state of captivity in the Canary Islands have completely retained their
original dimensions by mating with birds newly taken from their wild
state. The adult male wild Canary is greenish yellow upon the back, with
blackish streaks upon the shafts of the feathers, which are so broadly
bordered with bright ashy grey, that the latter might almost be described
as the principal colour. The hinder part of the body is yellowish green,
the upper tail-covers excepted, which are green, edged with ash-grey; the
head and neck feathers are yellowish green with narrow grey borders; the
forehead and two long stripes which run in a circular form over the eyes
to the neck are of a greenish-gold colour, and the throat, upper part of
the breast, and sides of the neck are, on the contrary, of an ash-grey.
The lower portion of the breast is of a paler yellowish tint, the belly
and under tail-covers whitish, the shoulders a beautiful siskin-green,
bordered with pale black and green, the blackish wing quill-feathers are
edged with green, and the blackish-grey tail-feathers sprinkled with
white; the eyes are brown, the beak and feet a brownish flesh colour.

Bolle is of opinion that the plumage above described is only acquired at
the end of the second year. The female is brownish grey upon the back,
with broad black lines along the shafts of the feathers; the neck and
top of the head are similarly coloured, but the ground colour of the
feathers is green. The cheek-stripes are grey, the forehead green, and
the cheeks partly greenish yellow and partly a blueish ash-grey. The neck
is encircled by a line that is yellowish green in front, merging into
blueish ash-grey at the back; this ring, however, is not very distinct.
The shoulders and small upper wing-feathers are a light yellowish green,
the whitish-grey borders of which are broader, but not so beautiful as
in those of the old male bird. The lower part of the breast and belly
are white, and the feathers at the sides of the body brown, with dark
lines at the shafts. The plumage of the young birds is brownish, shading
into yellow upon the breast, with a few touches of lemon-yellow upon the
cheeks and throat. The colours are extremely difficult to describe, owing
to the delicacy with which the different shades are blended, and we may
therefore add that the plumage is almost the same as that with which we
are familiar in what we call our tame green or grey Canaries.

The food of these birds consists principally of green herbs, small seeds,
and delicate juicy fruits--a ripe fig, for instance, with its soft, juicy
flesh and small kernels, is eagerly sought for and enjoyed, as soon as
the too ripe fruit has burst its violet or yellowish-green mantle, for
until this happy time arrives their small and delicate beak is quite
powerless to penetrate the distended skin. A fig-tree, when its fruit
has reached this point of ripeness, is indeed a beautiful sight for
those who have been fortunate enough to see it literally covered by the
various singing birds that are tempted to rob its branches. Blackbirds,
greenfinches, tom-tits, and many others come in variegated confusion