in ornithology, a genus belonging to the order of passerines. The bill is conical, straight, and sharp-pointed. There are no less than 108 species comprehended under this genus, distinguished principally by varieties in their colour. The following are the most noted.
1. **The carduelis**, or **goldfinch**, with the quill-feathers red forwards, and the outermost without any spots; the two outermost are white in the middle, as the rest are at the point. The young bird 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 London bird-catchers a cheverel, from the manner in which it concludes its jerk. It is distinguished from the common sort by a white streak, or by two, sometimes three, white spots under the throat. Their note is very sweet; and they are much esteemed on that account, as well as for their great docility. Towards winter, they assemble in flocks; and feed on seeds of different kinds, particularly those of the thistle. It is fond of orchards, and frequently builds in an apple or pear-tree; its nest is very elegantly formed of fine moss, liverworts, and bents, on the outside; lined first with wool and hair, and then with the goslin or cotton of the fallow. It lays five white eggs, marked with deep purple spots on the upper end; and has two broods in 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 plenty throughout Europe; it is also met with both in Asia and Africa, but less common.
2. **The colibri**, or **chaffinch**, hath 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 spotted. It has its name from its delighting in chaff. This species entertains us agreeably with its song very early in the year, but towards the latter end of summer assumes a chirping note; both sexes continue with us the whole year. What is very singular in Sweden, the females quit that country in September, migrating in flocks into Holland, leaving their mates behind; in the spring they return. In Hampshire Mr White has observed something of this kind; vast flocks of females with scarcely any males among them. Their nest is almost as elegantly constructed as that of the goldfinch, and of much the same materials, only the inside has the addition of some large feathers. They lay four or five eggs of a dull white colour, tinged and spotted with deep purple. They are caught in plenty in flight-time; but their nests are rarely found, though they build in hedges and trees of all sorts. They make their nests of moss and wool, or any thing they can gather up; and have young ones thrice a-year. They are seldom bred from the nest, as being a bird not apt to learn another's song, nor to whistle; so that it is best to leave the old ones to bring them up. The Essex finches are generally allowed to be the best sort, both for length of song and variety, ending with several notes that are Fringilla very pretty. It is an hardy bird, and will live almost upon any feeds, none coming amiss to him. He is seldom subject to disease, but will be very lousy if not sprinkled with wine two or three times a-month.
3. **The montifringilla**, or **brambling**, has a yellow bill tipped 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 of the breast and belly white; the quill feathers brown, with yellowish edges; the tail a little forked; the legs grey. This species migrates into England at certain seasons, but does not build here. It is frequently found among chaffinches, 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 covered with their dung, and more than 600 dozen were killed each night. They are said to be particularly fond of beechnuts, but will also eat seeds of various other kinds. Their flesh is eaten by many, but is apt to prove bitter. They are said to breed about Luxemburg, making the nest on the tall fir-trees, composed of long 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 of May. This species is found more or less throughout Europe; 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 domestica**, or **sparrow**, hath the prime feathers of the wings and tail brown, the body variegated with grey and black, and a single white streak on the wings. These well-known birds are proverbially factious, and have three broods in a year. They are everywhere common about our houses, where they build in every place they can find admittance; under the roof, corner of the brick-work, or in holes of the wall. They make a flovenly nest; generally a little hay ill put together, but 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 unfrequently 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 indolence; for in spite of every precaution, it will partake with the pigeons, poultry, &c. in the food thrown out to them, grain of all kinds being most agreeable to its taste; though it 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 by dozens, or of night caught in great numbers by a bat-fowling-net. The flesh is accounted tolerable by many. The sparrow has no song, only a chirp or two frequently repeated, and far from agreeable. This species is spread everywhere throughout Europe; and is also met with in Egypt, Senegal, Syria, and other parts of Africa and Asia.
5. **The spinus**, or **siskin**, hath the prime feathers of the wings yellow in the middle, and the four first chief tail-feathers without spots; but they are yellow at the base, Frigilla, bafe, and black at the points. Mr Willoughby tells us, that this is a song-bird; that in Suffolk it is called the barley-bird, because it comes to them in barley-feed time. We are informed that it visits these islands at very uncertain times, like the grosbeak, &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 of its song deserves: it is known there by the name of the aberdarvine. It is a very tame and docile species; and is often kept and paired with the canary-bird, with which it breeds freely. The bird-catchers have a notion of its coming out of Russia. Dr Kramer informs us, that this bird conceals its nest with great art; and though there are infinite numbers of young birds in the woods on the banks of the Danube, which seem just to have taken flight, yet no one could discover it.
6. The linota, 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 flax is their favourite food; from 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 rather 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 fraud 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, without at least close inspection. These birds are frequent on our sea-coasts; and are often taken in flight-time near London; it is a familiar 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, and a rich spot of purplish red on the forehead; the breast is of the same colour, but less bright. The female is less lively in colour; has no red on the breast; and the spot on the forehead is of a saffron hue. This species is common enough in England; and lays four or five eggs of a pale bluish green, thickly sprinkled near the blunt end with small reddish spots. Mr Pennant mentions an instance of this bird being so tenacious of her nest, as to suffer herself to be taken off by the hand; and that when released she would not forsake it. This species is known about London by the name of stone redpole. Linnæus, Kramer, and others, mention its being very fond of the seeds of alder. Whole flocks of them, mixed with the siskin, frequent places where alders grow, for the sake of 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 entangled one after another by dozens, by means of a twig smeared with birdlime fastened to the end of a fishing rod or other long pole. This species seems to be in plenty throughout Europe, from the extreme parts of Russia on the one hand to Italy on the other. Is very common in Greenland, and was also met with by our late voyagers at Aoonalashka. In America it is likewise well known. Hence it seems to be a bird common to the whole of the northern part of the globe without exception.
9. The montium, or twite, is about the size of a linnet. It has the feathers of the upper part of the body dusky; those on the head edged with ash-colour, the others with brownish red; the rump is pale crimson; the wings and tail are dusky, the tips of the greater coverts and secondaries whitish; the legs pale brown. The female wants the red mark on the rump. Twites are taken in the flight-season near London along with other linnets. It is probable that the name has been taken from their twittering note, having no music in it; and indeed the bird-catchers will tell at some distance whether there be any twites mixed among linnets merely from this circumstance. The twite is supposed to breed in the more northern parts of our island.
10. The amandava, or amaduva de bird, is about the size of a wren. The colour of the bill is of a dull red; all the upper parts are brown, with a mixture of red; the under the same, but paler, the middle of the belly darkest; all the feathers of the upper wing-coverts, breast, and sides, have a spot of white at the tip; the quills are of a grey brown; the tail is black; and the legs are of a pale yellowish white. It inhabits Bengal, Java, Malacca, and other parts of Asia.
11. The senegula, or Senegal finch, is a species very little bigger than a wren. The bill is reddish, edged all round with brown; and beneath the under mandible a line of brown quite to the tip; the same also is seen on the ridge of the upper mandible; the upper parts of the body are of a vinaceous red colour; the lower parts, with the thighs and under tail-coverts, of a greenish brown; the hind part of the head and neck, the back, scapulars, and wing-coverts, are brown; the tail is black; and the legs are pale grey. It inhabits Bengal; and, with the former species, feeds on millet. This affords the natives an easy method of catching them: they have no more to do than to support a large hollowed gourd, the bottom uppermost, on a stick, with a string leading to some covered place, and throwing under it some millet; the little birds, hastening in numbers to pick it up, are caught beneath the trap, by the stick being pulled away by the observer at a distance. The females are said to sing nearly as well as the males. They are familiar birds; and when once used to the climate, will frequently live five or six years in a cage. They have been bred in Holland by the fanciers of birds.
12. The canaria, or canary-bird, hath a whitish body and bill, with the prime feathers of the wings and tail greenish. It was originally peculiar to those isles to which it owes its name; the same that were known to the ancients by the addition of the Fortunatus. Though the ancients celebrate the isle of Canaria for the multitude of birds, they have not mentioned any in particular. It is probable, then, that our species was not introduced into Europe till after the second discovery of these isles, which was between the 13th and 14th centuries. We are uncertain when it first made its appearance in this quarter of the globe. Bellon, who wrote in 1555, is silent in respect to these birds; Gesner is the first who mentions them; and Aldrovand Frittery drovand speaks of them as rarities, observing that they were very dear on account of the difficulty attending the bringing them from so distant a country, and that they were purchased by people of rank alone. They are still found on the same spot to which we were first indebted for the production of such charming songsters; but they are now become so numerous in our own country, that we are under no necessity of crossing the ocean for them.—The Canary-bird will prove fertile with the silken and goldfinch; but in this case the produce, for the most part, proves sterile: the pairs succeed best when the hen-bird is the Canary, and the cock of the opposite species. It will also prove prolific with the linnet, yellow-hammer, chaffinch, and even the house sparrow; but the male Canary-bird will not assimilate with the female of these birds; the hen must be ever of the Canary species, and the young of these mostly prove male birds.—This bird is said by some to live 10 or 15 years; by others, as far as 18.