THE FINCHES-FAMILY FRINGILLID^ 



407 



coppice in Surrey. II ncsls in the alders, 

 willows on the fringe of streams, sometimes 

 in low bushes and scrub-wood. Our coloured 

 plale represents a male in wild plumage ; the 

 female does not possess the red breast and 

 similar tint on rump, though the male also loses 

 these in captivity. It is a small but very pretty 

 bird, and lis lively, confiding ways make it 

 quite a desirable pet in a cage, and is a great 

 attraction to the aviary. Its song is a mere 

 simi)le twittering note, but, continually uttered, 

 as it is, acts as an incentive to the rest of the 

 birds, and will often cause them to sing. The 

 Redpoll is a very affectionate bird, which is 

 easily tamed and taught many tricks. Of late 

 years it has become a popular cxhiliilion liird, 

 and is also much in request for hybrid breeding. 

 The desired points of a show specimen are the 

 rufous-brown colour coming well down on to 

 the sides of the breast and flanks, the richer 

 the better ; the breast and flanks also richly 

 streaked with darker brown ; the colours 

 generally rich, bright, clear and well defined ; 

 wing bars distinct ; the Ijlack bib on throat 

 of good size and well defined, not zig-zag ; 

 body shapely and well matured ; perfect 

 plumage, and steady. The bird does well on 

 the diet recommended for the ISIealy Redpoll, 

 and should be kept and shown in similar cages. 

 It is quite hardy, and should be allowed free 

 use of the bath. 



The Twite, Linota fldpirostris (Dresser), is a 

 resident and migrant, regularly breeding in the 

 northern parts of Britain, 

 assembling in large flocks 

 during the winter and migrating southwards. 

 Many become permanent residents in the 

 North, and it has bred in wild, hilly parts of 

 Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Ire- 

 land. It is not unlike the Linnet, though 

 slightly smaller and more slender-looking ; the 

 bill is smaller and is yellow, not brown. The 

 whole plumage, too, is darker, the throat, sides 

 of breast, and flanks being a reddish-brown and 

 the dark streaks on those parts are of a blacker 

 tint than those of the Linnet. It also resembles 

 the latter in its habits, except that of nesting. 

 In its wild state the male is distinguishable 

 by the red rump, which, however, disappears 

 when cage-moulted. Like the Redpoll, it has 

 little or no song, and its name is derived from 

 its peculiar call-note. It is a popular cage bird, 

 and for exhibition purposes the essential points 

 are good size and shape, ricli colour ; head 

 well laced ; good profusion of rich brown all 

 over the breast, and plenty of dark streaking, 

 perfect plumage and steadiness. The cages 

 and diet recommended for the Linnet are 

 suitable, and we may add that the bird is very 

 hardy, and quite safe for the aviary. 



The 

 Bullfinch. 



The Twite. 



Tlie Bulllinch, Pijrrhula europaa (Vieill.), is a 

 fairly plentiful resident throughout the British 

 Isles except in the extreme 

 north, and is found in Western 

 luuope, eastwards to Germany, 

 south to the Mediterranean. A larger species, 

 Pijrrhula pijrrhula, is found in Eastern Europe 

 and is known as the T^ussian or Siberian Bull- 

 finch. Our beautiful Englisli bird is of retiring 

 habits, and frequents woods and plantations 

 in pairs, its piping call-note imparting a touch 

 of life and melody to the surroundings. It is 

 a stout-built, compact bird of very striking 

 plumage, as may be seen from our coloured 

 plate, its bright red breast contrasting most 

 forcil)ly with the black hood on the head and 

 the beautiful bluish-grey back. A white band 

 runs across the rump, and anotlier of bluish- 

 grey across the black wings. The tail is black 

 and a faint tint of vermilion adjoins the lower 

 abdomen, with the under-tail coverts white. 

 The female differs from the male in having the 

 breast chocolate-brown and the grey on the 

 back tinged with brown. 



Although the Bullfinch has but a moderate 

 song, it is possessed of imitative powers in the 

 highest degree, and it may be taught to pipe 

 a tune more readily than any other British 

 bird. This may be done in a somewhat similar 

 manner to that recommended for the Blackbird, 

 but the tedious task is much more often success- 

 ful, and the Bullfinch tlien attains a great value. 

 In Germany regular piping schools are estab- 

 lished, where the birds are taught when quite 

 young. It takes kindly to captivity, and is 

 an attractive pet and exhibition bird. It can 

 be hand-reared, as recommended for the Haw- 

 finch, though the trouble is not necessary, for 

 adults readily lake to cage or aviary life. 



The Bullfinch is a somewhat slovenly bird, 

 and very apt to scatter its food. It should be 

 kept clean, and be given plenty of sharp sea 

 or fresh river sand. It breeds very freely in 

 the aviary if provided with proper materials 

 for building. We find Ihat it prefers small 

 pieces of heather and fine roots, and is also 

 partial to the fibres of coco-nut matting. 

 Wlien rearing young they should be given a 

 plentiful supply of buds of fruit trees and 

 bushes, dock, ragweed, and thistle seed heads 

 in their half-ripe, succulent form. In addition 

 give also a little good insectivorous food made 

 crumbly-moist each day, with a little hard- 

 boiled egg added. The regular diet should 

 consist of canary seed, German rape, groats, 

 and white sunflower seed in equal portions. 

 They are fond of rape seed soaked, as advised 

 for the Hawfinch, but unpuljied. Sunflower 

 seeds may be given in all stages of growth 

 towards the end of summer and autumn ; 



