THE SNOW FINCH. 157 



of the body is red, with brown spots ; the throat and breast 

 ire pale red ; some males are black in the middle of the lower 

 part. 



The female is paler in its colours ; its breast is spotted with 

 gi-ey and black ; in fact its plumage resembles the field lark's. 



OBSERVATIONS. This bird is always found in the north, both in the old 

 and new world, and goes towards the south in winter. It is met with by 

 us on its arrival with the larks, and on its return with the snow bunting, 

 but it is oftenest taken with larks. Its call is a kind of shrill whistle, and its 

 song is very similar to the linnet's ; the female also warbles, but only in 

 the bullfinch's style. It ranges the room like the lark, and if in a cage 

 hops about its perches like the chaffinch. It is fed on rape, hemp, and 

 poppy seed, which appear to agree with it very well. It may be fed at less 

 expense on the first universal paste, as it also likes meal worms. I think 

 that in Its wild state it lives, like the chaffinch, on seeds and insects. 



THE SNOW FINCH. 



?ringilla nivalis, LINNAEUS; Le Niverole, ou Pinson de neige, BUFPON ; Der 

 Schncefin, BECHSTEIN. 



THE name has been given it as much from its being found 

 en high mountains and the colour of its plumage, as for its 

 resemblance to the snow bunting. Its total length is seven 

 inches and a quarter, of which the tail measures two and a 

 half; the beak six lines long, very pointed, but thick at the 

 base, and of a glossy black; the feet ten lines high, dark 

 chestnut colour : its plumage is pretty ; the top of the head, 

 cheeks, temples, nape, back, and sides of the neck are dark ash- 

 coloured. 



The female only differs from the male in the grey of the 

 head having a reddish tint, and the whole of the under part 

 of the body, being white ; the breast has also a dirtier shade, 

 and the sides are spotted with black. 



OBSERVATIONS. The snow finch inhabits the southern Alps, but is found 

 as far north as the middle of Germany. I have even seen them in Thu- 

 ringia, in company with the mountain finch ; it is a sprightly bird, and 

 very fearless in a cage. It may be fed on rape, millet, and hemp seed ; 

 but it appears to prefer the seed of the fir and nettle hemp (Galeopsis 

 cannabina) : one would think that in its wild state it also fed on insects, 

 as it readily takes meal worms when offered them. Its call is " kipp, 

 Icipp." 1 It sings a great deal, but its song is not more agreeable than the 

 mountain finch's, to which it appears allied, and like that is only kept in 

 the house for its beauty and rarity 



