THE BULLFINCH. 223 



reported very differently of the frequency of the Bull- 

 finch. During winter the food of these birds consists 

 exclusively of seeds of various kinds, either picked up 

 from the ground or gathered from herbs and shrubs. In 

 spring, unfortunately for the gardener, their taste alters, 

 and nothing will satisfy them but the blossom-buds of 

 fruit-trees, especially those which are cultivated. They 

 attack indeed the buds of the sloe and hawthorn as well ; 



THE BULLFINCH. 



but of these, being valueless, no one takes note. Still 

 keeping together in small family parties, all uninvited, they 

 pay most unwelcome visits to gooseberries, plums, and 

 cherries, and, if undisturbed, continue to haunt the same 

 trees until all hope of a crop is destroyed. Gooseberry- 

 bushes are left denuded of flower-buds, which have been 

 deliberately picked off and crushed between their strong 

 mandibles, while the leaf-buds, situated principally at the 



