BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 149 



THE BULLFINCH 



THE Bullfinch is one of the most confiding of our 

 smaller birds and offers a splendid opportunity 

 for the naturalist photographer. It seems to 

 prefer the more uncultivated districts for a nest- 

 ing site, and I have often seen it near a Golden 

 Eagle's eyrie, where, strange to say, many of our 

 song-birds such as the Redstart, Chaffinch, and, 

 more numerous than any, the cheery little Coal 

 Tit are met with in large numbers. The 

 " King of Birds " apparently disdains such small 

 quarry, and a keeper who lives near an eyrie tells 

 me that they do incalculable damage to his fruit. 

 The Bullfinch is very local in its habits, and 

 seems to prefer a district rich in birch trees, the 

 catkins of which form the chief food of the 

 young birds. 



The series of photographs which illustrate this 

 chapter was obtained last summer under the most 

 favourable conditions. The nest was built in a 

 small spruce tree at a height of about four feet 

 from the ground, and the hen began to sit on May 3ist. 

 About a week later I made my first attempt 

 at photographing the bird, which, as incubation 

 advanced, became exceptionally tame, even for so 

 confiding a bird as the Bullfinch. At- last she 

 would allow me to stroke her on the nest and 

 took not the slightest notice of the camera. 



Once when, photographing her on the nest, the 

 cock bird began to call gently for her. She list- 

 ened intently and then, giving an answering cry, 

 left the nest and joined him to be fed. The young 

 ones were not hatched until June i6th, and I had 



