BULLFINCH 25 



Jj purple. They are hatched towards the end of May, after 

 Lan incubation of fifteen days. The male takes his turn 

 Jin sitting with the female. The latter sits very closely, 

 ^though she is in general easily frightened away. The male 

 is less so, but it is said that if he be disturbed the nest 

 is almost always deserted, which is not the case when the 

 female is alarmed. Mr. W. Read, of Hayton, has recorded 

 that, when resident at Frickley Hall, near Doncaster, a 

 icn bird which built in a laurel near the house suffered 

 icrself to be touched while sitting on her young ones, and 

 /ould feed from the hand without the least fear. The 

 Dirds are supposed to pair for life ; the members of the 

 amily keep together until the spring. Two broods are 

 requently reared in the season. 





VOL. n. 



