156 



THE CITRIL FINCH, 



Fnngilla citrinella, LINN^US ; Le Venturon, BUFFON ; Der Citronenflnk, 

 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 pan of the rump green- 

 ish 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, occasion- 

 ally strays into the southern parts of Germany*, 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, LINNAEUS ; 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 

 (Emberiza, Linn.), for though we cannot observe them much 

 whilst alive, we cannot be deceived as to their pairing witli 

 finches (Fringillte, Linn.) buntings and larks. They are 

 about the size of the yellowhammer, six inches and a half ifi 

 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 par* 



* They are not natives of Britain TRANSLATOR. 



