THE CHAFFINCH 133 



The song of the chaffinch bearing an evident relation to articuh.te sounds. 

 its lias been thought to distinguish its different variations by the final syl- 

 lable 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 supe- 

 riority.* 



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"^" I doubt 

 if ever a bird in its wild state has executed this so perfectly as I heard it 

 at RuhlJ 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 precipi- 

 tate manner. This song consists of four strains, the first of which com- 

 mences 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 LangsfeM 

 wine song , is very beautiful, but little known except in two or three 



* A good deal of imagination may be supposed to be put forth in the translation 

 of the song of these birds. An Englishman, a Frenchman, or an Italian would 

 discover in it words in their own language which might express very different 

 sounds. We shall not see with less pleasure here details that are entirely omitted 

 in other works on birds. Some will admire, however far it may go, an ear exer- 

 cised in discovering the shades, niceties, and, in fact, the beauties that delight it, 

 whilst another would be scarcely struck with any difference. Strangers will uo 

 longer be surprised at the excessive passion these birds excite where they are stu- 

 died with so much care. In England they are very little prized, and but seldom 

 kept TRANSLATOR. 



t Literally, " to go to the wine ;" pronounced vine-gay TRANSLATOR. 



J Ruhl is a large manufacturing village in Thuringia, the inhabitants of which, 

 mostly cutlers, have such a passion for chaffinches that some have gone ninety miles 

 from home to take with birdlime one of these birds distinguished by its song, and 

 have given one of their cows for a fine songster ; from which has arisen their com- 

 mon expression, tuck a chaffinch is worth a cow. A common workman will 

 give a louis d'or (sixteen shillings) for a chaffinch he admires, and willingly live on 

 bread and water to gain the money. An amateur cannot hear one that sings in a 

 superior style the double trill of the Hartz without being in an ecstasy. I have heard 

 them say that one which sings this melody perfectly certainly can converse, from its 

 pronouncing the syllables so distinctly. AUTHOR. 



JLangsfeld, whore this song was first discovered, is a large town in the district of 

 Fuk'a, situated a short distance from the Werra, which at Munden takes the name 

 of Weser. after its junction with the F<M AUTHOR. 



