THE CHAFFINCH 135 



7. The Quakia song is so called from its last syllables, and is double 

 or single, oue with one strain, the other with two. This song was for- 

 merly very much admired. It was heard in the woods and house, but it is 

 now lost, as all the wild chaffinches that sung it have been taken, and those 

 in confinement have been taught in preference the good wine song : I 

 believe I possess the only bird that is now to be found which sings this. 

 To be admired, the quakia must be united with the double trill. This 

 njy chaffinch sings also. 



8. The Pithia or Trewethia, is a very uncommon and agreeable song, 

 which is never heard but in the depths of the Thuringian mountains. 

 The birdcatehers of the villages about the forests of Hesse seek for birds 

 that possess it, and actively pursue the songsters. It is first a sonorous 

 strain, followed by several repetitions of the word " zack." Some birds 

 unite to it the common sharp wine song, and are more valued. The last 

 syllables ought to sound " trewidida." 



These eight varieties, or rather melodies, are those most thought of in 

 Saxony and Hesse. I have said that some of them are heard in the woods ; 

 but it is very rarely that they are sung with so alear and strong a voice, or 

 that they are so long and perfect. A chaffinch that knows only one of 

 these varieties generally sings it slowly, and introduces a greater number of 

 syllables. Its voice, in fact, executes it with more strength and depth ; if 

 it adds to the last strain the sound " flnk^ which our birdcatehers trans- 

 late by amen, it is of the highest value, no price will be taken for it. 



There are a dozen varieties in all; but as they are not uncommon, and 

 what are everywhere heard, they are less admired ; they have even been given 

 in contempt the name of plain. 



One thing worth remarking is that the song of the chaffinch varies almost 

 as much as the countries it inhabits. It is not the same in Thuringia as 

 in the Hartz, and the taste of amateurs differs equally *. In Austria several 

 mimed melodies are admired, but I have never heard them. 



The chaffinch has so great a facility in learning, that it not only imitates 

 perfectly the song of another chaffinch near which it has been placed from 

 youth, but being hung near a nightingale or canary it learns several parts of 

 their songs, and would no doubt give them completely if its larynx were so 

 formed that it could render notes so long and sustained ; in fine, a great 

 difference in memory is observed in these birds, as well as in all others of 

 the singing species. Some require six months to learn an air that others 

 catch on first hearing, and c^n repeat almost immediately; these can 

 scarcely retain one of the songs given above ; those can imitate three, 

 four, and, should you wish it, five different ones. There are also some that 

 cannot give one song without a fault, and we find others that will add to it, 

 perfect it, and embellish it. 



One thing peculiar to chaffinches is the necessity of teaching them their 

 song every year, and this in the manner proper for them, during the four or 

 five weeks this exercise lasts. They first utter a murmur, or weak warb- 

 ling, to which they add at first, in an under voice, one or two, and after- 

 wards several syllables of their song ; they are then said to record. A 



* The notes of the wild chaffinches in this country are finer than any cage ones 1 

 tiave heard in Germany. TRANSLATOR. 



