The song of the chaffinch bearing an evident relation to articulate sounds, its has been thought to distinguish its different variations by the final syllable of the last strain. The most admired in Thuringia are the following, which I shall give in their order, and in their different degrees of superiority.[38]
1. The Double Trill of the Hartz in Lower Saxony is composed of six strains, rather long, the last of which is ended by dwelling on the two final syllables, which I shall express here by the word “weingeh[39].” I doubt if ever a bird in its wild state has executed this so perfectly as I heard it at Ruhl[40] and at my own house. Art has certainly created it. It is with difficulty that a chaffinch attains it, if, with the best abilities, it has not been instructed from its earliest youth. Rarely can it give it complete without leaving any part out. On this account a high price must be given for the little prodigy that sings it through, full, entire, and in all its strength.
2. The Reiterzong, or rider’s pull, first heard among the mineral mountains of Saxony and Voigtland, has been known but a short time in Thuringia. It may be heard from a chaffinch in its wild state, but those that have been instructed execute it in a fuller, stronger, and less precipitate manner. This song consists of four strains, the first of which commences in a high key, and gradually descends. When in perfection there is a cadenced pause before the two last syllables, which articulate tolerably clearly reitzing with a zap or clapping, as our amateurs express it. An amateur who has never heard the double trill of the Hartz would not believe that a chaffinch could sing in a superior manner to this; however, in this, as in many other things, each has his taste.
3. The Wine Song is divided into four kinds, 1. the fine, or Längsfeld wine song[41], is very beautiful, but little known except in two or three places in Thuringia. It is composed of four strains, and to be perfect ought to resemble a hautboy, the two last syllables articulating “weingeh.” This song has never been heard from a wild chaffinch, but is one accidentally produced in the house, and endeavoured to be propagated by education.
2. The bad wine song is not in itself disagreeable, but it is so named when compared with the former. It is composed of three strains, of which the penultimate ought to sound zap five times, and the two last syllables articulate “weingeh.” When once a wild chaffinch has been heard to utter this in Germany it is not long ere it is caught. 3. The sharp wine song is not ended by “weingeh,” but “weingieh.” It is subdivided into the common sharp, such as is sometimes heard in the woods, and the Ruhl sharp, which is an entirely artificial song, confined to Ruhl and a few other villages of Thuringia. It has but two strains, of which the first syllables ought to sound as though flowing into each other, and the penultimate to have an accent.
4. The Bräutigam, or bridegroom song, is also divided into good and bad: the good is only heard in the house, and consists of two simple strains; it begins piano, afterwards forte, and, continuing crescendo, ends in the most brilliant sound. After the double trill of the Hartz it appears to my ear the finest of all. The bad is occasionally heard in the woods, and is composed of three strains; but though not devoid of sweetness, does not please so much as the former.
5. The Double Trill is formed of two long strains, divided by a cadenced pause, which is named the shake. They distinguish, 1. the common, subdivided into four; a, the strong, b, the clear, c, the long, and d, the short. These are heard sometimes in the woods and orchards; but chaffinches that sing a or b soon become the prey of our bird-catchers. 2. The double trill of Iambach[42]; this is only to be acquired in the house, and is so deep and powerful that one can scarcely conceive how the larynx of so small a bird can produce such sounds. It begins piano, and swelling its tones successively in crescendo, makes of the trilling a strain of five piercing tones, afterwards repeats “pfaff” four or five times, and ends by dwelling on “Rüdidia.” A chaffinch that possesses this song, either alone, or united with the good bridegroom’s song, such as are educated in Iambach, sells here for eighteen French francs.
6. The Gutjahr, or good year song, is so named from the two last syllables, and is also divided, 1. into the common, that has but two strains, of which the second ought to roll five times before articulating “gutjahr.” It is not uncommon in our woods. 2. The good year of the Hartz, which has been acquired in the house, and consists of two very singular strains, in my opinion not very agreeable. Chaffinches are very rare now which sing this, united to that of the wine song of Ruhl, or the sharp song, and their price is consequently high. They are rarely found but at Ersenach and Ruhl.