THE CITRIL FINCH.
Fringilla citrinella, Linnæus; Le Venturon, Buffon; Der Citronenfink, Bechstein.
This bird very nearly resembles the canary in its colour, shape, song, and habits; but it is smaller and its notes weaker. Its resemblance, however, is so marked, that I should be inclined to suppose it the primitive wild stock, if the canary had not its representative in those islands from which it takes its name. The length of the citril finch is five inches, of which the tail measures two. The beak is short, the feet flesh-coloured, the plumage on the upper part of the body yellowish green, streaked with brown; the under part of the rump greenish yellow; the principal tint on the breast yellow.
The female is less spotted, and the general shade of colour is lighter.
Observations.—This species, inhabiting the south of Europe, occasionally strays into the southern parts of Germany[52], and the sweetness of their song makes them much sought after. They should be treated in the same manner as canaries.
THE LAPLAND FINCH.
Fringilla Laponica, Linnæus; Le Grand Montain, Buffon; Der Lerchenfink, Bechstein.
This would be mistaken for a lark at first sight, as much from its plumage as from the length of its spur. We should also see them much oftener in Germany if the bird-catchers, who catch them in their lark’s nests, did not take or kill them both indifferently. Their decoys are the same as the buntings (Emberizæ, Linn.), for though we cannot observe them much whilst alive, we cannot be deceived as to their pairing with finches (Fringillæ, Linn.) buntings and larks. They are about the size of the yellowhammer, six inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures two. The beak is yellow, with a black tip; the feet dark brown; the head blackish, spotted with reddish white, sometimes quite black; a white line passes from the base of the bill above the eyes, down each side of the neck, curving towards the breast; the upper part of the body is red, with brown spots; the throat and breast are pale red; some males are black in the middle of the lower part.