This section is from "Every Woman's Encyclopaedia". Also available from Amazon: Every Woman's Encyclopaedia.
Written and Illustrated by F. J. S. Chatterton
Specialist Breeder and fudge of Poultry, Pigeons and Cage Birds; Judge at the "Grand International Show, Crystal Palace," Metnbre Societe des Avicutteurs Francais; Vice-president Poultry Club; Hon. Sec. Yokohama Club; on the Committee of Middlesex Coluntbarian Society;
Indian Game Club, etc., etc.
Finches as Pets - The Various Members of the Family - Habits and Characteristics
Everyone is better for a hobby of some kind, and the busiest folk often are the most successful, for hobbies help to refresh the brain for the sterner duties of life. Of all .hobbies, moreover, none is more interesting than the care of some kind of pet.
To the lover of Nature the subject soon will become fascinating, and "the fever," as we breeders and fanciers term it, once it has been caught, never can be checked.
The first subjects to be dealt with will be the English singing birds, and. first, I propose to discuss the family of birds known to ornithologists as the Fringillidcb. Of these, finches claim first attention on account of their popularity, beauty, and the fact that they can be kept in confinement with success.
There are several different varieties of finches in this country, all of which are members of the family
Fringillidoe. They are the goldfinch, bullfinch, chaffinch, bramble-finch, hawfinch, and greenfinch, the other members of the family being the siskin, linnet, twite, redpoll, crossbill, tree sparrow, and the house sparrow. They are very active and lively birds, and nearly all of them are gregarious, and are often met with in large flocks. As nest builders they are careful and painstaking, the most slovenly being the house sparrow.
Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans) is the most popular, by far the best songster, and one of the most beautiful of the finches. It is very hardy and does well in confinement. At one time it seemed likely that the bird would become extinct in this country, but it is now protected by the Wild Birds Act. In some counties, moreover, they are not allowed to be caught at any time of the year. In the northern counties of England the bird is very scarce, and it is seldom seen in Scotland.
The bullfinch is a great favourite among bird lovers, and can easily be made into a pet
We have the goldfinch with us in the southern counties throughout the year, but large quantities migrate hither from the Continent each spring.
Br i gh t red feathers on the front of the head and under the beak are more common and brighter in the male bird than in the female. The black band on the head is inclined to be brownish on the female, and the white feathers on the face are not so pure. The young birds have grey feathers on their heads and no red ones, and are commonly known as " grey pates."
The nest of the goldfinch, which is found about the middle of May, is a very beautiful one, and finished with great care. In many respects it is similar to that of the chaffinch, and is usually made of lichen, moss, and fine twigs, and the interior lined with hair and wool, in which four or five eggs are laid of greyish white, streaked and spotted with brown.
The goldfinch has been bred successfully in confinement with the canary for many years. The male birds thus produced are very handsome, and make excellent songsters. Hybrids of the goldfinch and bullfinch have also been bred, the progeny being birds of very rich and gaudy colouring.
A chaffinch and a goldfinch. The goldfinch is at once the most popular, the most beautiful, and the best songster of the finches
The bullfinch (Pyrrhula Euro-pcea) is another great favourite with lovers of birds, and it is a bird which soon can be made into a pet.
It is found in all parts of England and in many parts of Scotland, their favourite haunts being in orchards, where, in the spring, they attack the buds of the trees. The colouring of the cock is very handsome, cheeks and breast being of a pinky red, with jet black feathers on head, wings, and tail, and the back and shoulders a delicate grey, with a patch of pure white feathers on the lower part, which is very conspicuous when the bird is flying. The hen differs from the cock in plumage, and in having a grey breast instead of red.
The natural song of the bullfinch is a soft "piping," which is quite different from that of other finches. Some birds are taught to pipe different tunes, especially in Germany. The nest is not so compact, and more shallow than those of the other finches; it is generally made of small twigs and fine roots lined with hair; the eggs (four) are of a very pretty blue, streaked and speckled with purplish-grey.
 
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