2 PRINGILLID.E. 



less concealed by liair-like feathers at the base of the bill, directed foivvards. 

 Feet with the tarsus shorter than the middle toe : toes, three before, one be- 

 hind, divided. Wings rather short ; the first quill shorter than the third, which 

 is of the same length as the fourth, and the longest in the wing. 



The Bullfinch is too common a bird not to be exceed- 

 ingly well known, and is fonnd in most parts of England, but 

 particularly those which arc wooded and cultivated, preferring 

 gardens, orchards, hedgerows, plantations, and small woods, 

 to bleak and exposed tracks of common, waste, or moor. It 

 is rather shy and retiring in its habits, and is seldom seen 

 associated with any but its own species. In confinement this 

 bird appears to have an extraordinary appetite ; and at large 

 is found to be particularly destructive in gardens throughout 

 the spring of the year, devouring the flower buds of the va- 

 rious sorts of gooseberries, cherries, and plums, in succession, 

 to such an extent, as to destroy, if unmolested, all prospect 

 of any crop of fruit for that season. The author of the 

 Journal of a Naturalist, says, " In all instances I think it 

 will be observed, that such buds as produce leaves only are 

 rejected, and those which contain the embryo of the future 

 blossom selected : by this procedure, though the tree is pre- 

 vented from producing fruit, yet the foliage is expanded as 

 usual ; but had the leaves — the lungs of the plant — been in- 

 discriminately consumed, the tree would probably have died, 

 or its summer growth been materially injured ; we may thus 

 lose our fruit this year, yet the tree survives, and hope lives 

 too, that we may be more fortunate the next." Mr. Selby, 

 in the first volume of the Naturalist, remarks, " With me the 

 Bullfinches are very destructive, particularly to the plum 

 trees, apples, medlars, &c. It is the blossom buds that are 

 chiefly preferred. I have dissected dozens of these birds, 

 and have never found any remains of insects in the crop or 

 stomach. They are here very numerous, being fostered by 

 the extensive plantations I have made ; and I am obliged. 



