THE CHAFFINCH. 83 



ling notes, which, although not possessing the compass or 

 inflection that distinguishes some of the birds of this family, is 

 yet pleasing and agreeable. In Germany few birds are so 

 much prized for their musical powers as the chaffinch, so 

 much so that the most extravagant prices are given for birds 

 when possessing first-rate powers, the style and class of 

 each being adapted from the execution of the songs they 

 sing. Amongst some of the most admired of their songs in 

 Germany are : 1. The Double Thrill of the Hartz. 2. The 

 Reitezong, or Riders' Song. 3. The Wine Song, divided into 

 four kinds. 4. The Brautigan, or Bridegroom's Song. 5. The 

 Double Thrill. 6. The Gutzhan, or Good-Year Song. 7. 

 The Quakia Song. 8. The Pithia, or Trewithia.* Few would 

 suppose the common chaffinch to enjoy such distinction, yet 

 a German proverb tells us, " such a chaffinch is worth a cow," 

 from the story of a cutler in Ruhl having exchanged one for 

 a well-known songster. 



And Deglandf also informs us that, at Lille, in France, 

 " La gloire d' avoir le pinson qui chante le plus souvent, 

 n'est comparable qu' a celle d'avoir le coq le plus terrible dans 

 les combat ;" and that, to increase its melody, the chaffinch 

 is frequently deprived of sight. The same author also men- 

 tions the occurrence of a singing match between chaffinches 

 at Tournay, in 1846, where three birds sung 1118 times in 

 the hour : one, 420 times ; the other, 368 times ; and the 

 third, 330. 



In the formation of its nest the chaffinch seems to have 

 determined to invest it in some degree with its own beauty, 

 as, perhaps, its structure is the most elaborate and beautiful 

 of all our native birds. Placed, in most instances, in some 

 fork or cleft in an apple-tree, it is constructed with the 

 greatest taste ; the gay hues of different coloured lichens 

 contrasting with the green moss, or whatever foreign sub- 

 stance it can appropriate. 



" Mark it well within, without 

 No tool had he that wrought ; no knife to cut ; 

 No nail to fix ; no bodkin to insert ; 

 No glue to join ; his little beak was all. 

 And yet how neatly finished ! what nice hand, 

 With every implement and means of art, 

 And twenty years' apprenticeship to boot, 

 Could make me such another ?" 



So closely at times does the outward colouring of the nest 



* Bechstein. t Ornithologie Europeenne. 



G 2 



