198 FINCHES. 



The bullfinch builds its nest in some secluded copse or thick hedge, employ- 

 ing as materials small twigs and dry grass, with a lining of fibrous roots : it 

 usually lays five eggs. Less frequently it places its nest in a shrubbery or 

 garden hedge. 



The ordinary notes of the bullfinch are not musical, but these birds possess 

 a remarkable talent for imitation, and, when taken young, may be taught to 

 whistle many tunes with considerable accuracy. Their musical instruction is 

 generally communicated by means of a bird-organ, and requires considerable 

 time and care, as the birds must be in the habit of hearing the tunes they have 

 to learn for many months, in order that they may acquire them perfectly; and 

 when they begin to exert their musical powers, they must be kept from hear- 

 ing other birds, and from time to time assisted in their recollection, lest they 

 should transpose the passages in any way, or mix two airs together. Hence 

 a good piping bullfinch necessarily fetches a high price. Great numbers of 

 them are, however, trained in Germany, and imported into London every year. 



The bullfinches are divisible into several principal groups. Some {Carpo- 

 dacus) are more especially found in the most northern parts of Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and America, frequenting the sides of rivers and sometimes the culti- 

 vated fields, where they seek the seeds of various plants. These form their 

 nests of hay, and generally place them among the branches of some tree in 

 a forest. 



Another group {Spertnophild) is peculiar to the tropical parts of South 

 America and the West Indies, where some of the species prefer the bushes 

 of the cultivated fields, and may be seen perched on the ends of small branches, 

 while others frequent the shrubs in the neighbourhood of marshy places. Their 

 nest is composed of small roots and fibres of plants. Some {Vragus) reside 

 in the most northern parts of Europe during the summer, and on the approach 

 of winter migrate in small flocks to the southern provinces of Russia: they 

 are generally to be seen on bushy shrubs in the neighbourhood of streams 

 and torrents, and appear to live principally on the seeds oi artt'imsuT. 



Others again {Strobilophagd) are met with during the summer in the 

 northern parts of Europe, Asia, and America, where they reside mostly in the 

 pine forests ; on the approach of winter they migrate farther south. These live 

 upon the seeds and berries of various Alpine trees and plants. Their nest is 

 composed of dry sticks and small twigs lined with feathers, and is generally 

 placed in trees. 



Sul-Family VIII. 

 THE CROSSBILLS. LOXL\X.E.* 



General Characteristics. — Bill more or less broad, but compressed towards the 

 tips, which sometimes cross each other, and curved, or the upper overhanging that 

 of the lower mandible ; the wings more or less lengthened, pointed, and sometimes 

 rounded ; the tail moderate and emarginated, or graduated ; the tarsi short, with 

 the toes moderate. 



These birds are found in the north of Europe, America, and 

 Asia, migrating in summer to the higher latitudes, where they 



* \o$6s, loxos, slanling, cross7t'ise : so called from the shape of the beak. 



