This is a beautiful, lively, and active bird, and has some very sprightly, warbling notes. It is very highly prized in Germany, so much so, that it would seem, from the way they speak of it, that there is a Chaffinch mania prevailing in that country, somewhat like the Tulip mania which raged in Holland some years ago.* The following is an extract from a German work, on the history of this bird, and my readers may judge for themselves:- "Ruhl is a large manufacturing village inThuringia, the inhabitants of which, mostly cutlers, have such a passion for the Chaffinches, that some have gone ninety miles from home, to take, with bird-lime, one of these birds, distinguished for its song, and have given one of their cows for a fine songster; from which has arisen the common expression, - such a Chaffinch is worth a cow. A common workman will give a louis d'or, (sixteen shillings sterling,) for a Chaffinch he admires, and willingly live on bread and water to gain the money. An amateur cannot hear one that sings in a superior style the double trill of the Hartz, without being in an ecstasy. I have heard them say that one which knew this melody perfectly, certainly can converse, from its pronouncing the syllables so distinctly." There must certainly be a good deal of imagination in all this, or the organs of hearing in Germans must be superior to other men, as the translator of this work, who is a lover and keeper of birds himself, says, in a note: "The notes of the wild Chaffinches in this country (England) are finer than any cage ones I ever heard in Germany." And again, the same gentleman says, "In England they are very little prized, and but seldom kept."

* Bechstein's Cage Birds.

I have had several of these birds, and, although their note was very pleasant, they could by no means be ranked as superior songsters. Some time ago I had one; whether it came from Thu-ringia or Yorkshire, I cannot tell, as it was caught in the vicinity of Boston, having escaped from some cage, no doubt. The young man who caught it, brought it to me to find out what kind of a yankee bird he had got, as he had never seen one like it before. I put it in a cage with some Canary birds, and it agreed very well with them. It was in fine plumage, very lively and active, and a male bird. It eat the same as the Canaries, was in excellent health all the time I had it, nearly three months, and it would sometimes sit and warble its notes for an hour at a time.

The male of this bird will pair with a hen Canary.

Food

Feed it the same as Canaries.

Characteristics Of The Sexes

The male of this bird has the forehead black, the crown, nape and sides of the neck grayish blue; the back deep brown, the breast reddish brown. The female is smaller, the head, neck and back, a grayish brown, the breast a grayish red.

Location

Found throughout Europe - Resident.