CHAPTER XLII 



THE BULLFINCH OR BLOOD-ULF 



This handsome bird is rare in the Broad district. Indeed, 

 his home is the woodland, his delicious song being the 

 embodiment of woodland music. Many a happy day have I 

 spent beneath the cool shades of a coppice watching this 

 splendid creature courting among the glossy holly leaves. 



When seated beneath a cool " hulver " tree crushing the 

 sky-blue hyacinths, you suddenly hear the low, soft call of 

 the male, a short sweet whistle, to which the female responds 

 in similar strain, though softer and lower, as becomes the 

 woman. 



At the sound the handsome cock grows eager and begins 

 to walk up and down a green holly stick, his black cap, 

 mouse-coloured back, and splendid crimson breast, feather 

 tips, and tail lined with a ray of white below, flash in the 

 sun as he walks with great dignity through the pretty glazed 

 leaves, calling eagerly with his soft note. A rustle follows, 

 and the plain-breasted little maiden trips coyly on to the 

 same branch, calling softly, and she too begins to walk 

 out towards the end of the branch and back like a flirting 

 pigeon. And so they go on until suddenly they meet, their 

 bills open — yes, they are actually kissing, and doubtless they 

 seem to like it. Their kisses grow more eager ; a hearty 

 kiss and then a walk away from each other — and with such 

 dignity ! Indeed he is the embodiment of dignity. 



A branch breaks and they fly away to separate trees, and 

 then you shall hear such an antiphon as was never heard 

 out of the woodland, for she is as good a singer as her 



