334 COMMON BULLFINCH. 



based with slender twigs, and lined with fine 

 roots or grasses. The eggs are of a pale and 

 delicate greenish blue, marked with reddish or 

 purplish spots. 



The geographical range of the Bullfinch is not 

 very extensive, neither does it seem more common 

 in other districts than in Britain. In our own 

 country, it scarcely reaches the north of Scotland, 

 and is, we believe, unknown in the northern 

 islands. On the Continent it reaches to a lower 

 proportional latitude, but decreases in numbers, 

 and it has been long since known as a Japanese 

 bird. 



The Bullfinch is esteemed in confinement oh 

 account of its imitative powers, and numbers are 

 annually imported on this account from Germany, 

 under the title of " Piping Bullfinches/ 7 These 

 have lost almost entirely their natural limited song, 

 excepting their call-note, but have been taught 

 to whistle an air or favourite melody, which the 

 best do with great truth and distinctness, and 

 with a deep and full tone. The price of some of 

 these birds is extravagant. 



The Bullfinch, in form, is a compact and stout 

 bird, and the adult male shews a beautiful assem- 

 blage of colours. The crown of the head and 

 nape, the throat, wings, and tail, are rich velvety 

 black, with a steel blue and purplish gloss. The 

 back and shoulders delicate bluish gray, and the 

 rump, vent, and under tail coverts, pure white. 

 The cheeks, throat, and under parts, delicate tile 

 red, shading gradually into the other colours. In 



