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FRIGATE, among seamen, a ship of war, 
light built, and that is a good sailer. A fri- 
gate has commonly two decks, whence that 
called a light frigate is a frigate with only one 
deck'. All ships of war that carry from 20 
guns to a0 guns are called frigates. 
FRIGATOON, a Venetian vessel, com- 
monly used in the Adriatic sea, with a square 
stern, and carrying only a mainmast, mizen, 
and bowsprit. 
FR1LAZIN, the name of a class or rank of 
people among the Anglo-Saxons, consisting 
of those who had been slaves, but had either 
purchased, or by some other means obtained, 
their liberty". Though these were in reality 
free men, they were not considered as ot the 
same rank and dignity" with those who had 
been born free, but were still in a more ig- 
noble condition, and dependent either on 
their former masters or on some new pa- 
trons. This custom the Anglo-Saxons seem 
to have derived from their ancestors in Ger- 
mans, among whom those who had been 
made free did not differ much in point of 
dignity or importance in the state from those 
who continued in servitude. This distinc- 
tion between those who have been made free, 
and those who enjoy freedom by descent 
from a long race of free men, still prevails in 
many parts of Germany; and particularly 
in the original seats of the Anglo-Saxons. 
Many of the inhabitants of towns and cities in 
England, in this period, seem to have been 
of this class of men, who were in a kind of 
middle state between slaves and freemen. 
FR1NG ELLA, in ornithology, a genus 
belonging to the order ot passeres. 1 he bill 
is conical, straight, and sharp-pointed. There 
are no less than IQS species comprehended 
under this genus, distinguished principally 
by varieties in their colour. r lhe following 
are the most remarkable. 
1. The cartluelis, or goldfinch, with the 
quill feathers red forwards, and the outer- 
most without any spots; the two outermost 
are white in the middle, as the rest are at 
the point. The young b rd, before it moults, 
is grey on the head; and hence it is termed 
by the bird-catchers a grey-pate. There is 
a variety of goldfinches called by the Lon- 
don bird-catchers a cheverel, from the man- 
ner in which it concludes its jerk. It is dis- 
tinguished from the common sort by a white 
streak, or by two, sometimes three, white 
spots under the throat. The note of the 
goldfinch is very sweet, and they are much 
esteemed on that account, as well as for their 
great docility. Towards winter, they as- 
semble in flocks, and feed on seeds of differ- 
ent kinds, particularly those of the thistle. 
They are fond of orchards, and frequently 
build in an apple or pear-tree; the nestis 
very elegantly formed of fine moss, liver- 
worts, and bents, on the outside; lined first 
with wool and hair, and then with the gosiin 
©r fcottou of the sallow. The goldfinch lays 
five white eggs, marked with deep purple 
spots on the upper end, and has two broods 
iu the year. When kept in cages, they are 
commonly fed much on hemp-seed, which 
they eat freely, but which is said to make 
them grow black, and lose both their red and 
■yellow. The goldfinch is a long-lived bird, 
often attaining the age of 20 years. This 
-species is numerous throughout Europe; it is 
aliO met with both in Asia and Africa, but 
less common in those countries. 
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2. The cadebs, or chaffinch, has black 
limbs, and the wings white on both sides ; the 
three first feathers of the tail are without 
spots, but two of the chief are obliquely spot- 
ted. It has its name from delighting in chaff. 
This species entertains us agreeably with its 
song very early in the year, but towards the 
latter end of the summer assumes a chirping 
note. Roth sexes continue with us the whole 
year. What is very singular in Sweden, the 
female quits that country in Septembei, mi- 
grating in Hocks into Holland, leaving theii 
mates behind: in the spring they return. In 
Hampshire Mr. White has observed some- 
times vast flocks. of females with scarcely 
any males among them, lheir nest is as 
elegantly constructed as that ot the goldfinch, 
and of much the same materials, only the 
inside has the addition of some large featheis. 
They lay four or five eggs of a dull white co- 
lour, tinged and spotted with deep pin pie. 
They are caught in plenty in flight-time. 
3. The montifringilla, orbrambling, lias a 
yellow bill tipt with black ; the head, hind 
part of the neck, and back, are black ; the 
throat, fore part of the neck, and breast, pale 
rufous orange ; lower part ot the breast and 
belly white; the quill feathers brown, with 
yellowish edges; the tail a little forked; the 
legs grey. This species migrates into Eng- 
land at certain seasons, but does not build 
here. It is frequently Lund among chaf- 
finches, and sometimes comes in vast flocks. 
They are also seen at certain times in vast 
clouds in France, insomuch that the ground 
has been quite convered with their dung, 
and more than (300 dozen were killed each 
night. They are said to be particularly fond 
of beech mast, but will also eat seeds of va- 
rious other kinds, i heir flesh is eaten by 
many, but is apt to prove bitter. They are 
said to breed about Luxemburgh, making 
their nests on the tall fir-trees, composed of 
lonsr moss without, and lined with wool and 
feathers within ; the eggs are four or five in 
number, yellowish, and spotted; and the 
young are fledged at the end ot May. I his 
species is found more or less throughout Eu- 
rope, and is common in the pine forests of 
Russia and Siberia, but those of the last are 
darker in colour and less in size. 
4. The doinestica, or sparrow, has the 
prime feathers of the wings and tail brown, 
the body variegated with grey and black, 
and a single white streak on the w ings. 1 iiese 
well-known birds are proverbially salacious, 
and have three broods in a year. They are 
every where common about' our houses, 
where they build in every place they can 
find admittance to; under the roof, at the 
corner of the brick-work, or in holes of the 
wall. They make a slovenly nest; gene- 
rally a little hay ill put together, hut lined 
well with feathers, where they lay five or six 
eggs of a reddish white colour spotted with 
brown. They will sometimes build in the 
neighbouring trees, in which case they take 
more pains with the nest ; and not unfre- 
quently they expel the martins from theirs, 
to save the trouble of constructing one of 
their own. The sparrow, from frequenting 
only habitations and parts adjacent, may be 
said to be chiefly fed from human industry ; 
for, in spite of every precaution, it will par- 
take with the pigeons, poultry, &c. in the 
food thrown out to them, grain of all kinds 
being most agreeable to its taste, though it 
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will eat refuse from the kitchen of most kinds. 
It is a familiar but crafty bird, and will not 
so easily come into a snare as many others. 
In autumn they often collect into flocks, and 
roost in numbers on the neighbouring trees, 
when they may be shot bv dozens, or at night 
caught in great; numbers by a bat fowling-net. 
5. The spinus, or siskin, has the prime 
feathers of the wines yellow- in the middle, 
and the four first chief tail-feathers without 
spots; but they are yellow at the base, and 
black at the points. Mr. Willughby tells us, 
that this is a song-bird; that in Sussex it is 
called the barley-bird, because it comes to 
them in barley-seed time. We are informed 
that it visits these islands at very uncertain 
times, like the gross-beak, &c. It is to be 
met with in the bird-shops in London ; and 
being rather a scarce bird, sells at a higher 
price than the merit ot its song deserves: it is 
known there by the name of the aberdavine. 
It is a very tame and docile species, and is 
often kept and paired with the Canary-bird, 
with which it breeds freely. I he bird-catcr.ers 
have a notion ot its coining out ot Russia. 
Dr. Kramer informs us. that this bird con- 
ceals its nest with great art ; and though there 
are infinite numbers of young birds in (lie 
woods on the banks of tlie Danube, which 
seem just to have taken flight, yet no one 
could discover the nest. 
6. Thelinota, or linnet, has the bottom of 
the breast of a fine blood-red, which heightens 
as the spring advances. These birds are 
much esteemed for their song. They feed 
on seeds of different kinds, which they peel 
before they eat ; the seed of the linum or ilax 
is their favourite food; whence the name of 
the linnet tribe. They breed among furze 
and white thorn ; the outside of their nest is 
made with moss and bents, and lined with 
wool and hair. They lay five whitish eggs, 
spotted like those of the goldfinch. 
7. The cannabina, or greater red-pole, is 
less than the common linnet, and has a blood- 
coloured spot on the forehead, and the breast 
of the male is tinged with a fine rose-colour. 
It is a common lraud in the bird-shops in 
London, when a male bird is distinguished 
from the female by a red-breast, as in the 
case of this bird, to stain or paint the feathers, 
so that the deceit is not easily discovered, 
w ithout at least close inspection. These birds 
are frequent on our sea-coasts, and are often 
taken in flight-time near London: it is a fa- 
miliar bird,' and is cheerful in five minutes 
after it is caught. 
8. The linaria, or lesser red-pole, is about 
half the size of the last, with a rich spot of 
purplish red on the forehead ; the breast is 
of the same colour, but less bright. Mr. 
Pennant mentions an instance ot this bird 
being so tenacious of her nest, as to suffer 
herself to be taken olt by the hand, and that 
when released she would not forsake it. 1 his. 
species is known about London by the name 
of stone red-pole. Linnxus, Kramer, and 
others, mention its being very tond ot the 
seeds of alder. Whole flocks of them, mixed 
with the siskin, frequent places where alders 
grow, for the sake ot picking the catkins : 
they generally hang like the titmouse, with 
the back downwards; and in this state are so 
intent on their work, that they may be en- 
tangled one after another by dozens, by- 
means of a twig, smeared with bird-lime. 
