The Bullfinch. 27 



giants are called Kussian, or Siberian BuUfinclies by the dealers, 

 and are not natives of this country: they are said to breed 

 freely in the aviary, a statement, however, which I am nnable 

 to confirm, or refute, not having tried the experiment. 



The ordinary Bullfinch is pretty generally distributed over 

 Europe, existing in great numbers in the mountainous forests 

 of Grermany: the male and female keep together all the year 

 round. In their wild state these birds feed on all manner 

 of seeds, and are particularly fond of the buds of trees, for 

 which reason they are execrated by gardeners and horticul- 

 turists, who have succeeded in extirpating them from several 

 localities, and rendering them very scarce in many others. In 

 the house they are usually fed on summer rape seed, which 

 may be advantageously soaked in cold water for a couple of 

 hours before being given to the birds: they will also eat 

 canary seed, and are very fond of hemp, which should only 

 be allowed as a great treat now and then, and only a few 

 seeds at a time, as it is very fattening, and if permitted, the 

 Bullfinch would eat of it to repletion. A regular supply of 

 fresh wholesome green food is necessary to maintain these 

 birds in health, and they are particularly fond of apple pips. 



As the Bullfinch is a very shy bird, it naturally hides away 

 its nest in a thick bush, or a quickset hedge, where it is well 

 screened from observation. The nest is made of roots and 

 small twigs and moss, and is lined with hair; there are two 

 broods in the year, of four or five each time: the eggs are 

 bluish white, spotted with violet or brown at the large 

 end. 



When it is wished to bring up Bullfinches by hand, the 

 young must be removed from the nest as soon as their feathers 

 begin to sprout; when they are easily reared on bread-crumbs 

 and soaked rape seed. At first the young resemble their 

 mother, but the red breast soon marks the male; however, as 

 the females are almost as good singers as their brothers, it is 

 best to take them all together, especially as the old ones are 



