in zoology; the name of a genus of birds of the order of passerine, the distinguishing characters of which are these: The bill is strong, convex above and below, and very thick at the base; the nostrils are small and round; the tongue is as if cut off at the end; the toes are four, placed three before and one behind; excepting in one species, which has only two toes before and one behind.
1. The curvirostra, or common cross-bill, which is about the size of a lark, is known by the singularity of its bill, both mandibles of which curve opposite ways and cross each other: The general colour of the plumage in the male is of a red-lead inclining to rose-colour, and more or less mixed with brown; the wings and tail are brown; the legs black. The female is of a green colour, more or less mixed with brown in those parts where the male is red. This species is a constant inhabitant of Sweden, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Russia, and Siberia, where it breeds; but migrates sometimes in vast flocks into other countries, as is now and then the case in respect to England; for though in some years a few are met with, yet in others it has been known to visit us by thousands, fixing on such spots as are planted with pines, for the sake of the seeds, which are its natural food: it is observed to hold the cone in one claw like the parrot, and to have all the actions of that bird when kept in a cage. It is also found in North America and Greenland; and is said to make the nest in the highest parts of the fir-trees, fastening it to the branch with the resinous matter which exudes from the trees.
2. The coccothraustes, or hawfinch, is in length seven inches; breadth, 13; the bill is funnel-shaped, strong, thick, and of a dull pale pink colour; the breast and whole under side are of a dirty flesh colour; the neck ash-coloured; the back and coverts of the wings of a deep brown, those of the tail of a yellowish bay: the greater quill-feathers are black, marked with white on their inner webs; the tail is short, spotted with white on the inner sides; and the legs are of a flesh-colour. This species is ranked among the British birds; but only visits these kingdoms occasionally, and for the most part in winter, and never known to breed here. It is more plenty in France, coming into Burgundy in small flocks, about the beginning of April; and soon after making the nest, which is placed between the bifurcation of the branches of trees, about twelve feet from the ground: it is composed of small dry fibres, intermixed with liverwort, and lined with finer materials. The eggs are of a roundish shape, of a bluish green spotted with olive brown, with a few irregular black markings interspersed. It is also common in Italy, Germany, Sweden, and the west and southern parts of Russia, where the wild fruits grow. It feeds on berries, kernels, &c., and from the great strength of the bill, it cracks the stones of the fruit of the haws, cherries, &c., the greatest with ease.
3. The enteletor, or pine-grosbeak, is nine inches in length, and weighs two ounces. The bill is strong, bulky, and forked at the end: the head, back, neck, and breast, are of a rich crimson; the bottoms of the feathers ash-colour; the quill-feathers and tail bulky, their exterior edges of a dirty white: the legs are black. This species frequents the most northern parts of this kingdom, being only met with in Scotland, and especially the Highlands, where it breeds, and inhabits the pine-forests, feeding on the seeds, like the cross-bill. It is also found in all the pine-forests of Siberia, Lapland, and the northern parts of Russia; it is common about St Peterburgh in autumn, and is caught in great plenty at that time for the use of the table; returning north in spring. They are likewise common to the northern parts of America; appearing at Hudson's Bay in May, to which place they are said to come from the south, and are observed to feed on the buds of willow. The southern settlements are inhabited by them throughout the year, but the northern only in the summer season. Our last voyagers met with this bird in Norton Sound; it was also found at Aoonalafsha.
4. The pyrrhula, or bullfinch, is so generally known Lexia. as almost to supercede description: The head, wings, and tail, are black; the breast and belly red; the upper tail coverts and vent white; and the breast ash-colour. The female differs in having the under parts of a reddish brown. This species is common in most parts of the continent of Europe, and throughout Russia and Siberia, at which last places it is caught for the table. It is pretty common in England; and builds in the bushes, five or six feet from the ground. The nest is composed chiefly of moss; and the eggs, which are five or six in number, are dirty bluish white, marked at the large end with dark spots. The time of breeding is about the end of May or beginning of June. In the summer it mostly frequents woods and the more retired places. In winter it approaches gardens and orchards, and has been generally stigmatized for making havoc among the buds of trees. From some late observations, however, it would appear, that the object of these birds is not the bud, but "the worm in the bud;" and that this species, in conjunction with various other species of small birds, are the frequent means of defending the embryo-fruits, and thence promoting their growth to maturity: for the warmth that swells the buds, not only hatches nidus (eggs) of unnumbered tribes of insects, whose parent flies, by an unerring instinct, laid them there,—but brings forward a numerous race already in a caterpillar state, that now issue from their concealments, and make their excursion along the budding branches, and would probably destroy every hope of fruitage, but for those useful instruments for its preservation, whose young are principally fed by eating caterpillars.—The bullfinch, in its wild state, has only a plain note; but when tamed it becomes remarkably docile, and may be taught any tune after a pipe, or to whistle any notes in the juttest manner; it seldom forgets what it has learned; and will become so tame as to come at call, perch on its master's shoulders, and (at command) go through a difficult musical lesson. They may be also taught to speak, and some thus instructed are annually brought to London from Germany.
5. The corvulea, or blue grosbeak, is the size of the bullfinch: The bill is stout, brown, and the base of it surrounded with black feathers which reach on each side as far as the eye: the whole plumage besides is of a deep blue, except the quills and tail, which are brown, with a mixture of green, and across the wing coverts a band of red: the legs are dusky. It is an inhabitant of South America; but is sometimes found in Carolina, where it is a very solitary bird, and seen only in pairs, but disappear in winter. It has only a single note.
6. The violacea, or purple grosbeak, is about the size of a sparrow: The bill is black: the plumage, violet black; except the irides, a streak over the eye, the chin, and the vent, which are red: the legs are dusky grey. This species inhabits the Bahama Islands, Jamaica, and the warmer parts of America.
7. The cardinalis, or cardinal grosbeak, is near eight inches in length. The bill is stout, and of a pale red colour: the irides are hazel: the head is greatly crested, the feathers rising up to a point when erect: round the bill, and on the throat, the colour is black; the rest of the bird of a fine red; the quills and tail duller than the rest, and brownish within: the legs are the colour of the bill. The female differs from the male, being mostly of a reddish brown. This species is met with in several parts of North America; and has attained the name of nightingale from the fineness of its song, the note of which resembles that of the nightingale. In spring, and most part of the summer, it sits on the tops of the highest trees, singing early in the morning, and piercing the ear with its loud pipe. These birds are frequently kept in cages, in which they sing throughout the year, with only short intervals of muteness. They are fond of maize and buck-wheat; and will get together great hoards of these, often as much as a bushel, which they artfully cover with leaves and small twigs, leaving only a small hole for entrance into the magazine. They are also fond of bees. They come the beginning of April into New York and the Jerseys, and frequent the Magnolia swamps during the summer; in autumn they depart towards Carolina. They are pretty tame, frequently hopping along the road before the traveller; but are not gregarious, scarce ever more than three or four being met with together. From their being familiar birds, attempts have been made to breed them in cages, but without success.
8. The orix, or grenadier grosbeak, is about the size of a house-sparrow. The forehead, sides of the head, and chin, are black; the breast and belly the same: the wings are brown, with pale edges; and the rest of the body of a beautiful red colour: the legs are pale. These birds are inhabitants of Saint Helena; they are also in plenty at the Cape of Good Hope, where they frequent watery places that abound with reeds, among which they are supposed to make their nests. If (as is supposed) this be the same with Kolben's Finch, he says that the nest is of a peculiar contrivance, made with small twigs, interwoven very closely and tightly with cotton, and divided into two apartments with but one entrance (the upper for the male, the lower for the female), and is so tight as not to be penetrated by any weather. He adds, that the bird is fearless only in summer, being in the winter wholly ash-coloured. These birds, seen among the green reeds, are said to have a wonderful effect; for, from the brightness of their colours, they appear like so many scarlet lilies.
9. The Philippina, or Philippine grosbeak, is about the size of a sparrow: the top of the head, the hind part of the neck and back, and the scapulars, are yellow, the middle of the feathers brown: the lower part of the back is brown, with whitish margins: the fore part of the neck and breast are yellow; and from thence to the vent yellowish white; the wing-coverts brown, edged with white: the quills are brown, with pale rufous or whitish edges; and the tail the same: the legs are yellowish. These birds inhabit the Philippine Islands; and are noted for making a most curious nest, in form of a long cylinder, swelling out into a globose form in the middle. This is composed of the fine fibres of leaves, &c. and fastened by the upper part to the extreme branch of a tree. The entrance is from beneath; and, after ascending the cylinder as far as the globular cavity, the true nest is placed on one side of it; where this little architect Lays her eggs, and hatches her brood in perfect security.
A variety of this species, the Baglafechut (Buff. iii. 469), an inhabitant of Abyssinia, makes a very curious nest like the former, but a little different in shape; and is said to have somewhat of a spiral form, not unlike that of a nautilus. It suspends it, like the other, on the extreme twig of some tree, chiefly one that hangs over some still-water; and always turns the opening towards that quarter from whence least rain may be expected.
10. The Abyssinian, or Abyssinian grosbeak, is about the size of the hawfinch: the bill is black: the irides are red: the top and sides of the head, throat, and breast, are black: the upper parts of the body, belly, and thighs, pale yellow, inclining to brown where the two colours divide: the scapulars are blackish; the wing-coverts brown, bordered with grey; the quills and tail brown, edged with yellow: the legs are of a reddish grey. This bird is found in Abyssinia; and makes a curious nest of a pyramidal shape, which is suspended from the ends of branches like the others. The opening is on one side, facing the east: the cavity is separated in the middle by a partition; up which the bird rises perpendicularly about half-way, when descending, the nest is within the cavity on one side. By this means the brood is defended from snakes, squirrels, monkeys, and other mischievous animals, besides being secure from rain, which in that country sometimes lasts for six months together.
11. The penfils, or penfils grosbeak, (the Toddy-bird of Fryer), is about the size of the house-sparrow: the bill is black: the irides are yellow: the head, throat, and fore part of the neck, the same: from the nictitans springs a dull green stripe, which passes through the eye and beyond it, where it is broader: the hind part of the head and neck, the back, rump, and wing-coverts, are of the same colour: the quills are black, edged with green; the belly is deep grey, and the vent of a rufous red: the tail and legs are black. This species is found at Madagascar; and fabricates a nest of a curious construction, composed of straw and reeds interwoven in shape of a bag, the opening beneath. It is fastened above to a twig of some tree; mostly to those growing on the borders of streams. On one side of this, within, is the true nest. The bird does not form a new nest every year, but fastens a new one to the end of the last; and often as far as five in number, one hanging from another. These build in society, like rooks; often five or six hundred being seen on one tree. They have three young at each hatch.
Kämpfer mentions a bird similar to this, if not the same, which makes the nest, near Siam, on a tree with narrow leaves and spreading branches, the size of an apple-tree: the nest in the shape of a purse, with a long neck, made of dry grass and other materials, and suspended at the ends of the branches; the opening always to the north-west. He counted fifty on one tree only; and describes the bird itself as being like a Canary-bird, of a dark yellow, and chirps like a sparrow.
Fryer also talks of the ingenuity of the Toddy Bird, making a nest "like a steeple, with winding meanders," and tying it by a slender thread to the bough of a tree. "Hundreds of these pendulous nests may be seen on these trees."
12. The chloris, or greenfinch, is a well-known bird: the general colour is a yellowish green, paler on the rump and breast, and inclining to white on the belly; the quills are edged with yellow, and the four outer tail-feathers are yellow from the middle to the base; the bill is pale-brown, and stout; and the legs are of a flesh-colour.—This species is pretty common in Britain, and flies in troops during the winter. It makes the nest in some low bush or hedge, composed of dry grass, and lined with hair, wool, &c. laying five or six greenish eggs, marked at the larger end with red brown; and the male takes his turn in fitting. This bird soon becomes tame; even old ones being familiar almost as soon as caught: it lives five or six years. Like the chaffinch, it is apt to grow blind if exposed to the sun. This species is also pretty common everywhere on the continent of Europe: but not very frequent in Russia; and is not at all found in Siberia, though it has been met with in Kamtschatka. It is sufficiently common both in Cumberland and Scotland: yet in the first, it is scarce ever observed in the winter season; but the last week in March becomes plentiful, and breeds as in other parts of England.
13. The Bengalenfs, or Bengal grosbeak, is a trifle bigger than a house-sparrow: the bill is of a flesh-colour; the irides are whitish; the top of the head is of a golden yellow; the upper parts of the body are brown, with paler edges; the sides of the head and under parts rufous white; across the breast is a brown band, uniting to, and of the same colour with, the upper parts of the body; the legs are of a pale yellow, the claws grey. This species (thus described by Mr Latham) seems to be the same with the Indian grosbeak described as follows in the Asiatic Researches. "This little bird, called baya in Hindi, berbera in Sanscrit, bobai in the dialect of Bengal, cibb in Persian, and tenawwit in Arabic, from his remarkably pendant nest, is rather larger than a sparrow, with yellow-brown plumage, a yellowish head and feet, a light-coloured breast, and a conic beak very thick in proportion to his body. This bird is exceedingly common in Hindoostan: he is astonishingly sensible, faithful, and docile, never voluntarily deserting the place where his young were hatched, but not averse, like most other birds, to the society of mankind, and easily taught to perch on the hand of his master. In a state of nature he generally builds his nest on the highest tree that he can find, especially on the palmrya, or on the Indian fig-tree, and he prefers that which happens to overhang a well or a rivulet: he makes it of grass, which he weaves like cloth and shapes like a large bottle, suspending it firmly on the branches, but so as to rock with the wind, and placing it with its entrance downwards to secure it from birds of prey. His nest usually consists of two or three chambers; and it is the popular belief that he lights them with fire-flies, which he catches alive at night, and confines with moist clay or with cow-dung: That such flies are often found in his nest, where pieces of cow-dung are also stuck, is indubitable; but as their light could be of little use to him, it seems probable that he only feeds on them. He may be taught with ease to fetch a piece of paper, or any small small thing that his master points out to him: It is an attested fact, that if a ring be dropped into a deep well, and a signal given to him, he will fly down with amazing celerity, catch the ring before it touches the water, and bring it up to his master with apparent exultation; and it is confidently asserted, that if a house or any other place be shown to him once or twice, he will carry a note thither immediately on a proper signal being made. One instance of his docility I can myself mention with confidence, having often been an eyewitness of it. The young Hindoo women at Benares, and in other places, wear very thin plates of gold, called tloor, slightly fixed by way of ornament between their eye-brows; and when they pass through the streets, it is not uncommon for the youthful libertines, who amuse themselves with training bayas, to give them a signal, which they understand, and send them to pluck the pieces of gold from the foreheads of their mistresses, which they bring in triumph to the lovers. The baya feeds naturally on grasshoppers and other insects; but will subsist, when tame, on pulse macerated in water: his flesh is warm and drying, of easy digestion, and recommended in medical books as a solvent of stone in the bladder or kidneys; but of that virtue there is no sufficient proof. The female lays many beautiful eggs resembling large pearls; the white of them, when they are boiled, is transparent, and the flavour of them is exquisitely delicate. When many bayas are assembled on a high tree, they make a lively din; but it is rather chirping than singing: Their want of musical talents is however amply supplied by their wonderful sagacity, in which they are not excelled by any feathered inhabitant of the forest."
14. The nigra, or black grosbeak, is about the size of a Canary bird: the bill is black, stout, and deeply notched in the middle of the upper mandible; the plumage is black, except a little white on the fore part of the wing and base of the two first quills: the legs are black. It inhabits Mexico.
15. The minuta, or minute grosbeak, is about the size of a wren: the bill is stout, thick, short, and brown: the upper parts of the plumage are grey brown, the under parts and rump ferruginous chestnut; the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills are white at the base: the legs are brown. It inhabits Surinam and Cayenne. —It is said to keep paired to its mate the whole year; and is a lively, and not very tame bird. It mostly frequents lands which have lain for some time uncultivated; and lives both on fruits and seeds. It makes a roundish nest, the hollow of which is two inches in diameter, composed of a reddish herb, and placed on the trees which it frequents. The female lays three or four eggs.
16. The socia, or sociable grosbeak, is about the size of a bullfinch: The general colour of the body above is a rufous brown, the under parts yellowish: the beak and muzzle are black; the legs brown; and the tail is short. It inhabits the interior country at the Cape of Good Hope; where it was discovered by Mr Paterson.—These birds, according to our author, live together in large societies, and their mode of nidification is extremely uncommon. They build in a species of Mimoza which grows to an uncommon size; and which they seem to have selected for that purpose, as well on account of its ample head, and the great strength of its branches, calculated to admit and to support the extensive buildings which they have to erect, as for the tallness and smoothness of its trunk, which their great enemies, the serpent-tribe, are unable to climb. The method in which the nests themselves are fabricated, is highly curious. In the one described by Mr Paterson there could be no less a number (he says) than from 300 to 1000 residing under the same roof! He recalls it a roof, because it perfectly resembles that of a thatched house; and the ridge forms an angle so acute in Mimoza smooth, projecting over the entrance of the nest below, that it is impossible for any reptile to approach them. The industry of these birds seems almost equal (says our author) to that of the bee; throughout the day they appear to be busily employed in carrying a fine species of grubs, which is the principal material they employ for the purpose of erecting this extraordinary work, as well as for additions and repairs. Though my short stay in the country was not sufficient to satisfy me by ocular proof, that they added to their nest as they annually increased in numbers, still from the many trees which I have seen borne down with the weight, and others which I have observed with their boughs completely covered over, it would appear that this is really the case; when the tree which is the support of this aerial city is obliged to give way to the increase of weight, it is obvious that they are no longer protected, and are under the necessity of rebuilding in other trees. One of these deserted nests I had the curiosity to break down, so as to inform myself of the internal structure of it, and found it equally ingenious with that of the external. There are many entrances, each of which forms a regular street, with nests on both sides, at about two inches distance from each other. The grubs with which they build is called the Boishman's grubs: and I believe the seed of it to be their principal food; though, on examining their nests, I found the wings and legs of different insects. From every appearance, the nest which I dissected had been inhabited for many years; and some parts of it were much more complete than others; this therefore I conceive nearly to amount to a proof, that the animals added to it at different times, as they found necessary, from the increase of the family, or rather of the nation or community."
17. The tridactyla, or three-toed grosbeak (the guifso balito of ingen), has only three toes, one before and one behind. The bill is toothed on the edges: the head, throat, and fore-part of the neck are of a beautiful red, which is prolonged in a narrow band quite to the vent; the upper part of the neck, back, and tail, are black; the wing coverts brown, edged with white; quills brown, with greenish edges; and legs a dull red; the wings reach half way on the tail.—This species inhabits Abyssinia; where it frequents woods, and is a solitary species. It feeds on kernels of seeds, which it breaks with ease with its bill. The name in its native place is guifso balito dimo-won jerk. Button's figure is from Mr Bruce's drawings.
Here are 76 other species of this genus; the whole number, besides varieties, enumerated in the Syst. Nat. (Gmelin), and in Mr Latham's Index Ornith. being 93.