THE CHAFFINCH. 239 



and from birds in my own possession. It is rarely heard in all its 

 perfection, and never, except from a Chaffinch which has been 

 reared from the nest. On these accounts, a bird which sings it 

 perfectly, and is moreover able to retain it in memory for a 

 considerable time, is considered very valuable. This, and what 

 is called the Wine song, are the favourites among the Chaffinch 

 connoisseurs at Ruhl. 



2. The Reitzug, or Reitherzug, of which there are two kinds. 

 The first has been introduced into Thuringia from Eizgebirge 

 and the Yoigtland, the mineral districts of Saxony, to which 

 it properly belongs. It may, indeed, be occasionally heard in 

 wild birds on the eastern part of the Thuringian forest ; but 

 trained birds sing it more fully and perfectly. It is a power- 

 ful, sonorous song, consisting of four short phrases, the first 

 of which ought to be given in a very high note ; and the last 

 ends with the syllables Reifaug. Before this, however, a ca- 

 dence should be introduced, to make the performance quite per- 

 fect, and the whole should end with a sharp Tzap, or, as con- 

 noisseurs call it, a snap. The second variety of this song is 

 peculiar to Breitenbach and the Oberland, and is longer and 

 more flute-like in tone than the former. The last syllable, too, 

 is said to be Rietza, instead of Reitzug, in accordance with the 

 provincial pronunciation of Thuringia. Both these are ex- 

 cellent songs, and one who had not heard the double trill of 

 the Hartz, would find it difficult to believe that a bird's song 

 could be more perfect. Still on this, as on every other sub- 

 ject, it is impossible to account for differences of taste. 



8. The Reihahn. This song, which may frequently be 

 heard in the mountainous districts of Saxe Meiningen, and 

 especially in Steinbach and Lanscha, must not be confounded 

 with the preceding. It consists of one long, sharp passage, 

 beginning on a high note, and rapidly descending to the con- 

 cluding syllables Reethahn, or Riethahn, followed by the usual 

 Tzap. It is a good and striking song. 



4. The Weiclmann, or Sportsman's Song. Of this there are 

 two varieties, the Cage and the Wood Song, the former of which 



and I have often heard them say, that one possessing this song might 

 easily be taught to speak so distinct a pronunciation of the various sylla- 

 bles does it require. The rage for Chaffinches in Thuringia is not con- 

 fined to Ruhl, but extends, in greater or less degree, to the neighbouring 

 villages of Tambach, Schmalkalden, Breitenbach, and Steinbach. 



