Based on the birefringent index dispersion effect,a quartz crystal birefringent filter is constructed with quartz crystal and polarizer for picking up the 590 nm spectral line in an intracavity Raman yellow laser. The operating principle is analyzed by means of Müller matrix and Stokes parameters. The filtering performance is tested by AQ-6315A spectrometer with an intracavity Raman yellow laser as light source. The experimental results show that the 1180 nm spectral line is extracted after filtering,and the purity of 590 nm frequency laser has been ensured. The structure of this birefringent filter is simple and the operation is convenient. At the same time,it does not change the direction of light beam.