PASSE RES. ( 176 ) FRINGILLIDM. 



THE BULLFINCH. 



BULLY, ALP, POPE, NOPE, TONY-HOOP, RED-HOOP, 

 COAL-HOOD, OR COALLY-HOOD. 



Pyrrhula europcea. 

 %^z Bullfinch. 



Tke Blackbird whistles from the thorny brake ; 

 The mellow Bullfinch an sivers from the grove. 



Thomson, Spring. 



This handsome bird is a permanent resident in the county,^ 

 and is more frequently seen in our woods, gardens, and 

 shrubberies during winter and spring, when the trees are 

 bare of foliage, than in summer and autumn, when the 

 leaves usually conceal it from view, although its call-note 

 may be heard. 



It appears to be more numerous in certain districts than 

 in others, and it is now prevalent in Lauderdale, where it is 

 said not to have been found thirty years ago.^ Amongst 

 the favourite haunts of the Bullfinch may be mentioned the 

 woods about Paxton, Wedderburn, Burnhouses, Spottiswoode, 

 Westruther, Legerwood, and Earlston. At Paxton it is 

 plentiful, its nest being found every year in the plantations 

 near the side of the Tweed there. 



1 The Bullfinch has heen occasionally observed on migration at the Isle of 

 May. Spring 1881.— 14th April, one seen. Spring 1882.— Several seen. Spring 

 1883.— Several seen. There is no record of it being seen at the Fame Islands. — 

 Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-86. 



^ Hist, Ber. Nat. Club, vol. viii. p. 144. 



