146 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
in size and colour, that no generally applicable 
description can be given. 
CONCERNING that remarkably handsome bird the 
Bullfinch there is much difference of opinion. 
That the testimony of farmers and gamekeepers is 
almost universally against him there can be no manner 
of doubt. Nor can it be denied that the bird will 
often entirely strip fruit-trees of their buds, and so 
destroy the crop of fruit for the year. On the other 
hand, we know that it also devours a vast number of 
wild seeds during the autumn and winter ; and two 
theories have been brought forward with the intention 
of proving that the bullfinch is not altogether an enemy. 
The first of these is to the effect that the buds 
which it destroys are tenanted by grubs, which would 
not only have caused an equal amount of mischief 
themselves, but would, by propagating their kind 
when mature, provide for a future generation of 
equally mischievous beings. To a certain extent, no 
doubt, this belief is correct; and it has certainly 
more than once occurred that gooseberry-bushes have 
been almost completely disbudded by the bird, and 
have nevertheless yielded a heavy crop of fruit. 
But it cannot be denied that a great number of 
buds are destroyed which do not contain an insect at 
all. When a bullfinch attacks a bush or a tree, in 
fact, it sets systematically to work, and takes off the 
blossoms without previous investigation of any kind. 
And those who have carefully studied the habits of 
the bird, and who would only too willingly protect it 
