258 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER AND COUNTRY GENTLEMAN, January 24, 1860. 
Winter Nelis. —There were five exhibitions of this variety, 
the exhibitors being Mr. Ingram, gardener to J. J. Blandy, Esq., 
of Reading ; Mr. Moorman, from his garden at Bexhill, Sussex; 
Mr. Ralphs, gardener to Russell Sturgis, Esq. ; Mr. Sage, gar¬ 
dener to Lord Howe; and Mr. Merrick. In all these cases the 
fruit was very excellent; but those sent by Mr. Moorman from 
a light loam, with a subsoil of clay naturally rather dry, and 
grown against a south-west aspect wall, were very delicious, and 
very much covered with russet. Those from Mr. Ralphs, grown 
against a south-east wall on a dark loam lying on an unknown 
depth of red sand, were also very rich and highly flavoured ; but 
the flesh was firmer than in those sent by Mr. Moorman. The 
first prize was awarded to Mr. Moorman, and the second to Mr. 
Ralphs. 
An extra prize was awarded to Mr. Hall, gardener to Mr. 
Lucas, of Roehampton, for a fine dish of Easter Beurrc , which 
were very highly flavoured. # 
Prizes were offered for Old Nonpareil Apples ; but as there 
was only one exhibition, and that of a very inferior description, 
no award was made. Also for Golden Harvey Apple, of which 
there was only one dish, and that also being of an inferior de¬ 
scription a second prize was awarded to Mr. R. Webb, of Calcot, 
near Reading. 
Prizes were awarded for the best dish of any other variety of 
Apple, the first being taken by Mr. Webb, of Calcot, with Cockle 
Pippin, and the second by Mr. Ivery, of Dorking, with Mickle- 
ham Pearmain —a good Apple. 
Mr. Hill, of Keele Hall, sent examples of Lady Doione's Seed- 
liny and Barbarossa Grapes. The flavour of the former was very 
rich, and far superior to Barbarossa / in both instances the 
berries have just begun to shrivel. 
THE CANARY AND THE BRITISH FINCHES. 
{Continued from paye 179.) 
3rd.—THE GREENFINCH (Loxia clitoris). 
French, Le Yerdier. German , Der Griinling. 
Tiie Greenfinch, also known as the Green Bird, Green Lintie, 
and Green Linnet, and called by some naturalists the Green or 
Lesser Grosbeak, is one of our commonest seed-birds. It is about 
six inches long, the beak is rather stout, and the tail shorter than 
some birds of its size, which have, I suppose, caused it to be 
classed with the Grosbeak by most naturalists. The general 
plumage is a yellowish-green, inclining to grey on the back and 
lighter beneath. The edges of the pinion feathers and the lower 
parts of the tail feathers are yellow. The hen is much duller in 
colour, being more greyish-brown, and showing very little green 
or yellow. Although the young of both sexes much resemble the 
female, yet the young males may at once be recognised by the 
yellow colour of the bastard-w'ing. With age they become much 
ycllo wer. The nest is often placed among twigs, against the side 
of a tree, in a hedge, bush, or shrub, roughly built of roots, moss, 
and wool, in which they lay four or five whitish eggs, spotted 
with brown and slightly streaked at the blunt end. 
They feed, in a wild state, principally on seeds, of which chick- 
weed and sowthistle seem their favourites; also, sunflower, 
radish, and many other seeds, and some berries. In winter time 
when pressed with hunger they enter the stack-yard, and will then 
cat any grain they can find, even peas. Some naturalists say 
they feed wholly on seeds; while others affirm that they feed 
their young on green caterpillars and small insects. 
They are robust birds, easily kept in health in the cage. Their 
song, though not of the highest order, is sprightly and given 
with heartiness, but often interspersed with a harsh, purring 
note, In the spring they occasionally sing on the wing while 
flying from tree to tree. If taken young and brought up by 
hand, they may be rendered very tame and be taught to sing 
the notes of other birds. 
They will breed with the Canary, but being a rather strong 
bird and very rough in his love-making, he is apt to frighten the 
hen Canary (and sometimes I am told even to kill her), con¬ 
sequently, it is difficult to get them to breed. I have found it a 
very successful plan to bring up the Greenfinch cock tame by hand, 
or place the Greenfinch eggs under Canaries, and let the young 
birds remain in sight of the Canaries all the winter; then, in 
spring, put the cock Greenfinch to a large, stout hen Canary. 
My greatest success has been from a half-bred Belgian hen 
Canary, from which I reared a dozen mules in one season. The 
hen being a crested bird some of the young Mules were also 
turned-crowned. Bechstein condemns these hybrids aB being no 
songsters, but it is probable he did not make them familiar, as I 
have found them very good singers, superior in my opinion to 
the Canary, as they learn the notes of all the birds in the aviary ; 
but they are certainly very shy, and unless kept in the living- 
room, or used to company, they will rarely sing in the presence 
of any one, nor do they remain so long in song as the Canary, 
In colour they are siskin-green, yellowish on the breast, and moro 
grey on the back; intermediate in size between the Greenfinch 
and Canary. 
A friend to whom I gave the hen Greenfinches which I reared 
put one with a Belgian cock Canary, and reared three Mules. 
These differed from mine only in their tails being shorter, moro 
like the Greenfinch. 
There is, however, much difference in the breeding of the 
Greenfinch. Some will breed and rear their young as well and even 
better than the Canary ; while others are so mischievous as to 
necessitate their removal. 
Canary-seed, with an interchange of millets, oats, and plenty 
of green food, is, I consider, the best diet in confinement.— 
B. P. Brent. 
Just as the above was printing, appropriately enough wo 
received the following communication :— 
“ It was, I think, in the year 1844, that as my sister and myself 
were taking a w'alk, we met a milk-boy with a miserable-looking 
half-fledged bird in his hand. We became desirous of possessing 
this poor starveling. A copper coin soon settled the matter of 
possession. We ran home with our charge, frantic with delight. 
I will not trouble you with our childish hopes and fears ; hopes 
for its living ; fears for its dying. Suffice it that the bird repaid 
our care in growing to be the most interesting bird that ever came 
under my notice. It was a Green Linnet or Greenfinch, a bird 
of great beauty when seen close at hand. We, in a short time, 
made this little creature so tame that any of tlie family might 
with impunity carry it about the house perched on the finger. 
If it saw any one sewing it would settle on the work and endeavour 
to pull the thread out of the needle ; and, being a pugnacious 
little creature, would return again and again when driven off. It 
would also perch on the head and get quite furious if unable to 
extract a hair. Of course, at meal times it was as one of tfie 
family, taking its share with the rest. It was as whimsical as it 
was tame. It would never wash in any vessel but the one it had 
been accustomed to,—a common blue saucer. We have tried to 
tempt it over and over again without success, although very rest¬ 
less and uncomfortable for the want of its bath. 
“ The following spring my mother fell ill, and, being nervous 
withal, could not endure the peculiar cry which Dick uttered 
almost incessantly. 
“ The pet was condemned to be carried away far from home. 
We, with heavy hearts, put it in a little basket and took it more 
than a mile from our house. It was with difficulty we could be 
persuaded to let it out; but after many kisses and tears we at 
last did, and watched it as it flew into a little wood, and there 
lost sight of it. This j on think was an end of it. So we thought. 
The next day a neighbour came to ask if we had lost our bird. 
We told him what had occurred. * Well,’ he replied, ‘ I do 
not know, but I think I have seen your bird.’ It appears he 
went into his cellar, and on opening the door perceived a bird 
which lighted on his head. Our friend was rather startled at the 
visitor so little expected in that place, as no ingress could be 
obtained except by a disused chimney, down which the bird must 
have fallen or flown. The bird was brought in and proved to be 
ours. Now comes the question. How could it find its way back 
to within a door or tv T o of its home ? I might say to its home ; 
as no doubt it did return to the house though unperceived. Did 
it follow us? I cannot say. We often looked back, but did not 
see it. It had some few times been hung out in its cage. Had 
it the organ of locality largely developed, and, taking a high flight, 
saw old familiar objects ? A mile is a long way for a little bird 
to be taken ; and small birds seldom fly high. I cannot answer 
I the question myself; perhaps some of your readers can, although 
I do not think there has ever been a parallel. 
“ The pet once more became a member of the family, and, I must 
say, the most highly honoured among us. My mother, however, 
could not overcome her antipathy to its cry. So we agreed to 
open the window and let it go and come as it liked. All that 
summer it spent its days out of doors,—coming occasionally for 
food and water,—and its nights in its cage. Should the window 
happen to be closed when it returned home, a gentle tap with its 
