Perching Birds. 



19 



■s^^ 



THE SCARLET This pretty Finch has only 



BULLFINCH. i,gg,., captured twice in England, 



[Qarbodacnz t-i ■ 1 1 



once near Brighton, and once near 

 eryUirinns.) 



Hampstead. I have seen both 



specimens, and could detect no sign of then' having been 

 kept in confinement, nor is the species a frequent cage- 

 bird in this country. Its home is in Northern Russia 

 and in Siberia, but it breeds also in Eastern Prussia, 

 and it has occurred during the season of migration in 

 Heligoland, in Southern Sweden, and in France, so 

 that there is nothing extraordinar\' in its occasional 

 occurrence in Great Britain. Although popularly spo- 

 ken of as a ' Bullfinch,' the present species is more 

 like a stoutly-built Canary in form, but has scarlet as 

 the predominating colour instead of yellow. As will 

 be seen by the accompanying figures, there is consider- 

 able difference in the colour of the se-xes, the female 

 being a very sober-plumaged individual. The nest is 



built in svvamp_\' localities, and is placed in the fork of a willow-bush cr some other 

 low tree, or amongst climbing-plants. It is a carefully made, but slenderly built cup, 

 and is more like that of a Warbler than that of a Finch. The eggs are four or 

 five in number, of a beautilul blue, with well-marked spots of black and purplish or 

 reddish brown. 



The Crossbill [Loxia curvirustrat. The pretty legend connected with the 

 blood-stained breast and the crossed bill of this bird has been immortali;;ed by 

 Longfellow, but the same story of the attempted rescue of the Saviour from the 

 Cross has been told of the Robin and other birds with red breasts, which were 

 bidden to 'bear in token of this moment, marks of blood and holy rood.' The 



The Scarlet Bullfi.nch. 



The Crossbill. 



