i8 



BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, berries, and soft fruits. 

 Voice. — The notes are uttered in one continuous bubbling strain, 

 and are very beautiful. They are flute-like and musical, 

 but the song is often very low and subdued. Male bird is 



very agitated when sing- 

 ing, raises crest feathers 

 when thus engaged, with 

 a tremulous motion of 

 wings and tail. 

 Chief Features. — The black 

 and brown heads of 

 male and female respec- 

 tively are sure methods 

 of identification. A 

 Summer visitor only. 

 The bird returns to the 

 same haunt each season. 

 By no means common, but is often overlooked because of its 

 shy, skulking habits. Does a great deal of good by reason of 

 its insectivorous diet. 

 Plumage. — The black cap is the distinguishing feature of the male, 

 the remainder of the plumage being generally ashy-grey and 

 bluish-grey. The female has the top of the head reddish-brown, 

 whilst the other parts are somewhat browner than those of 

 the male bird. Length. — Five and a half inches. 



BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula europcsa) 



Local Names. — Alp, Blackcap, Budpricker, Bully, Blood-Ulf, Coal- 

 Hood, Coally-Hood, Hoop, Hope, Mivope, Monk, Nope, Olf, 

 Olph, Pope, Red Hoop, Ting Hoop, Toney Hoop, Tony. 



Haunt. — Woods, commons, thickets, hedgerows, and gardens. 



Nesting Period. — May, June, and July. 



Site of Nest. — Bramble and other bushes, shrubs, hedgerows, etc. 



Materials Used. — Small twigs and fibrous roots, with a little black 

 hair for a lining. A very small nest for so large a bird. 



Eggs. — Four or Five. Greenish-blue, spotted in the form of a ring, 

 and sometimes blotched, with black or dark brown, mostly at 

 the larger end. 



Food. — In Summer, insects and their larva? ; in Autumn and 

 Winter, various seeds of weeds, hips, haws, berries, and buds. 

 c. — In a wild state a low, plaintive note is uttered, as well as a 

 subdued song. When taken from nest the young may be 

 taught to pipe beautifully, and such birds command a high 

 price and a ready sale. 



