PASSERINE BIRDS. icy 



the tip ; the legs are short and weak, the wings comparatively long and pointed, the tail graduated, 

 and the prevailing colour of the plumage yellowish or green. The male is a magnificent little creature, 

 of about the size of a Siskin, three or three and three-quarter inches in length and eight in width, 

 the tail measuring two inches, and the wing two and a half inches. The female is a trifling degree 

 smaller. In the male, the fore part of the head, throat, and middle of the breast are of a bright 

 yellowish green, the under part of the body light yellow, while the upper part and the back of the 

 head and neck are of an olive green. The under parts are uniform in shade, but marked at the sides 

 with two large, deep black streaks, the back is dotted with some very faint spots, running from the 

 head to the tail; over the wings pass two yellow lines, the wing and tail feathers are plain black, 

 edged with a greenish shade. During the autumn the feathers upon the middle of the back and wings 

 are of an olive brown or reddish grey. The female is paler in colour, and more strongly marked than 

 her mate ; the young ones are of a dirty or pale greenish yellow, marked along the body with greyish- 

 yellow streaks. 



In Germany the Girlitz is numbered amongst the migratory birds, appearing there about the last 

 day of March or first of April, and remaining until late in the autumn ; indeed, it spreads in a 

 similar manner over the whole of Southern Europe, but in spite of this fact w r e can scarcely desig- 

 nate its wanderings as true migrations. This bird is particularly numerous in Spain, and is to be 

 met with in all parts of its highlands and lowlands, if we except the country about Castile. In 

 Catalonia it is as commonly met with as is the Sparrow with us ; every garden, every vineyard is 

 enlivened by its presence, it abounds in every grove — even the summits of Montserrat affording it a 

 welcome residence. Some few years ago the Girlitz was unknown in the interior of Germany, and 

 was only found about the south-eastern and south-western portions of that country ; but at the present 

 time it is met with in considerable numbers around Dresden, and we ourselves have captured a little 

 pair in the neighbourhood of Jena. The love of this species for certain districts is quite remarkable. 

 Orchards situated near vegetable gardens form its favourite retreat ; all such places as present these 

 attractions are much frequented, whilst in districts that are deficient in gardens and fruit-trees the 

 Girlitz is but rarely seen. We have observed that it rapidly increases and multiplies in any locality 

 where it settles. According to Hoffmann, this bird does not inhabit the hilly parts around Stuttgard, 

 although often met with in the fields or plains ; while Homeyer tells us that it makes no distinction 

 between high-lying and low-lying districts. The Girlitz is a spruce, brisk, lively little creature, with a 

 moderately good voice, and considerable peculiarity in its habits, particularly during the breeding 

 season. Strangely enough, the male birds are the first to come amongst us, and are afterwards 

 followed by the females. The former, when they begin to arrive, attract attention by their loud notes 

 and careless movements, perching upon the highest trees, raising their tails, and turning themselves in 

 all directions, as they busily pour forth their song ; but should the spring be wet or cold, they keep 

 well under shelter of the trees, and only occasionally steal out to snatch a morsel from the ground, 

 while their notes during such times are faint, few, and far between. As the breeding season 

 approaches the song of the little strangers becomes more animated, and their gestures more extra- 

 ordinary. The male, not content with exhausting itself to please its mate with its voice, stretches 

 itself like a cuckoo upon the branches, erects the feathers upon its throat, spreads its tail as it balances 

 and turns its body in all directions, then rises suddenly into the air, fluttering in a most curious 

 manner, with somewhat of the motion of the bat ; it next settles upon the tree, throwing itself from 

 one side to the other, after which it will return to its first perch, and recommence its song. Should 

 another male appear, nothing can exceed the rage of the jealous occupant, who pursues the intruder 

 from one tree to another with furious indignation, and only leaves him after having inflicted a con- 

 siderable amount of very severe chastisement for the liberty he has taken. The song of this species 



