SONG-BIRDS 179 



and the damage it inflicts are about equally balanced. In a large part 

 of North America, however, where they were introduced only a few 

 decades ago, they have become, on account of their remarkable fecundity, 

 a veritable pest to the farmer, against which no effectual remedy has 

 yet been discovered. 



The familiar Canary (Serinus canarius) is derived, as its name indi- 

 cates, from the Canary Islands. It is still found there in a wild state, 

 its plumage being of a greenish-yellow colour ornamented with blackish 

 stripes (protective colouring). The uniform golden yellow or yellow and 

 black plumage is the result of breeding, extending over about 300 years, 

 on the part of man. (Compare with dog.) 



The Bullfinch (Pyrrhula rubricilla) is another favourite cage-bird, 

 which even learns to whistle tunes. The top of the head is covered by 

 a circular black patch resembling a priest's skull-cap, hence the German 

 name dompfaff, i.e., " the canon." The back and wings are also of a 

 glossy black, the latter crossed by two white bars. The under side in 

 the male is of a beautiful scarlet-red, but in the female the colour is of 

 an inconspicuous blue-grey. This bird only leaves the woods during 

 severe winters in search of a few berries or seeds in the orchards ; thus, 

 unlike its relative the sparrow, its senses have not been sharpened 

 through intercourse and struggle with man, to whose persecutions it falls 

 an easy victim. 



Of the numerous species of Bunting" (Emberiza), we shall only 

 mention the Yellow-hammer (E. citrinella), which in winter comes 

 into our towns and villages in company with the sparrows, and is a 

 frequent guest in our farmyards. The head, neck, and under side are 

 of a beautiful yellow colour ; the upper surface is reddish-grey. 



The Common Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) is an inhabitant of fir 

 and pine woods, and makes its home wherever pine or fir seeds are good 

 and plentiful. In such places we may see it hanging on to the fir-cones 

 with its strong feet, which are equipped with long, powerful, and pointed 

 claws, or on a branch holding with its feet a cone which it has bitten off, 

 and from which it is picking out the seeds. For this kind of work it is 

 well fitted by means of its crossed bill. (What is the legend in regard to 

 the latter ?) By pushing the point of the beak under one of the scales of 

 the cone and turning its head aside to some extent, the bird lifts up the 

 scale and lays bare the seed, which is then pushed into the mouth with 

 the tongue, which is shaped like a shovel, and very protrusible. In 

 consequence of the peculiar shape of the bill the bird cannot pick up seeds 

 from the ground. Its bill and feet render the bird an adept climber — in 

 fact, it has been called " the parrot of our forests." It breeds, like all 

 birds, when food is abundant. (Why ?) This mostly happens during the 



