THE OREGON NATURALIST 



105 



gray, the lesser blackish gray edgeil with red, 

 The tail is somewhat forked, and steel blue, 

 shining with a black lustre. 



The female may be distinguished from ihe 

 male, by the fact she is smaller; that the red 

 portions of her plumage are strongly tinged 

 with gray; that the black is brownish gray; and 

 the feet lighter in colour. 



The bullfinch is a native of the old world. 

 In Germany it is very common, and may be 

 seen in pairs, in all woody districts. In winter 

 it migrates in search of berries. It is an 

 exceedingly affectionate bird; very averse, both 

 when wild and confined, to being separated 

 from his male, and when with her continually 

 caressing and calling to her. The bullfinch 

 breeds twice a year; geneially concealing its 

 nest as much as possible in fir tree or hedges. 

 The nest is badly built of twigs, and lined with 

 mo,-;s. The female lays from 4 to 6 eggs, of ^ 

 pale t.luish green, with a circle of violet and 

 brown spots as the large end. The youni; 

 i)irds are iiatched in a fortnight. 



It feeds on the seeds of the pine, fir, ash, 

 maple, beech, and all kinds of berries. It will 

 also eat linseed, millet rape, nettle, and grass 

 seed, and the worms and insects containet! in 

 the buds. Ornithologists contend that the 

 whole of the buds which the bird destroys con- 

 tain grubs, which are only eaten, the vegetable 

 envelope being rejected, and there is no doubt 

 tliat the buds of the cherry and other fritit trcs 

 w hich it destroys have a worm at the core, 

 which would prevent the fulhllment of their 

 promise to yeild fruit in due season. 



The bullfinch is a very docile bird; and 

 although the natural song of both sexes is harsh, 

 reaembling the creaking of a door or wheel 

 barrow, they may be trained, as in Germany, 

 to whistle many airs and songs in a soft, pure, 

 flute-like tone, which is highly prized bv 

 amateurs. Tne bird is generally capable of 

 retaining in its memory thiee different tunes. 



THE OREGON NATURALIST. 



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Official Organ North-Western Ornithological 

 A.ssociation. 



EDITORS. 



A. B. AVERILL, Portland, Ore. 



Dr. C. C. PU.K.DUM, Providence, R. I. 



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The Oregon Naturalist. 

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July. 1896. 



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Small double terminated quartz crystals, 

 (juar/zoid io\m, are found in Crook county, 

 Or. Only small crystals have been found, but 

 search is being made for largei specimens. 



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