410 PYRRHULA PILEATA. 



tive organs, I should doubt that such crude vegetable matters 

 as buds could afford it sufficient nourishment. 



The flight of the Bullfinch is undulated, and capable of being 

 protracted on occasion ; but it seldom flies to a great distance 

 when pursued, and in winter may sometimes be seen flitting 

 along the hedges and roads, scarcely evincing more shyness 

 than the Chaffinch. At the same time, it is an active and 

 lively bird, and on account of the beauty of its plumage is a 

 general favourite. Although its natural song is not remarkable 

 for variety or duration, its voice is mellow, and it may be 

 taught to whistle a variety of tunes. 



About the beginning of May, it begins to construct its nest, 

 which is rather loosely formed of small dry twigs, with a lining 

 of fibrous roots, and is placed at no great height in a bush, fre- 

 quently of hawthorn, or on the horizontal branch of a spruce. 

 The eggs, four or five in number, are of a rather broad oval 

 form, nine and a half twelfths long, seven and a half twelfths in 

 their greatest diameter, of a bluish or purplish-white colour, 

 sj^otted and streaked with purplish-grey and reddish-brown. 



Young. — The young, when fledged, have the upper parts 

 greyish-brown, without any black on the head, the lower parts 

 yellowish-brown. At the first moult the plumage assumes its 

 bright colours, but it is not until the second year that the red 

 of the male acquires its full tint. 



Remarks. — The Common Bullfinch is said by authors to be 

 of general occurrence in the northern and temperate parts of 

 Europe, , residing chiefly in wooded and hilly districts ; but to 

 occur in the south only as a bird of passage. With us it is a 

 permanent resident, and it does not appear that its numbers 

 undergo any diminution or augmentation in winter. I have 

 not observed any remarkable diflerences between individuals, 

 indicating the existence of two species usually confounded, al- 

 though I have heard it said that such have been met with. 



