THE BULLFINCH 49 



two broods being produced in the year, one in May and the other 

 in July or August. The young are reared chiefly upon insect larvae 

 including caterpillars. The food of the adults comprise worms, 

 slugs, insects their larvae and pupae, grass and other herbage, 

 seeds and grain, chiefly in stubbles, and late or autumn sown corn 

 not covered with earth. The larks are snared during the autumn 

 and winter when they assemble in flocks for the purpose of feeding 

 on stubble. The mode of catching the larks is generally by means 

 of a number of horsehair noozes attached to a long line. Food, 

 chiefly screenings, of winnowed corn, is scattered among the nooses, 

 and the larks, in reaching the food, get their limbs entangled in the 

 horsehair, and either strangle themselves, or are held until the fowler 

 comes to take them out. Dunstable is the most celebrated place 

 for them, as many as 4,000 dozen having been caught near that 

 town alone in one year. 



The WOODLARK (Alauda arbor ea) is smaller than the skylark 

 and less distinct in its colours. It perches upon trees, and is chiefly 

 found in fields near the borders of woods. Its flight is much less 

 extensive and powerful than that of the skylark, and it sings during 

 the night. The nest is built on the ground, generally under a 

 sheltering bush. The eggs are five in number, of a dusky colour, 

 spotted with deep brown spots. Two broods are reared annually. 

 The woodlark is much less common than the skylark, its focd being 

 similar to that of the latter. 



The BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula vulgaris or europ&a), Fig. 37, belongs 

 to the sub-family Pyrrhulinae of the family Frigillidae, and is noted 

 for the beauty of its plumage and remarkable for the facility with 

 which it is tamed and taught to " pipe," or even to articulate words. 

 It has a short, rounded, robust bill, a black cap, and the plumage on 

 the back is of an ash or dark blue-grey colour ; the inferior parts 

 of the body are reddish. The female is greyish-red beneath. 

 In habits, the bullfinches are semi-gregarious, inhabiting coppices, 

 thickets, and neglected hedges, pairing during the breeding season, 

 and visiting gardens and fruit plantations. The nest is built in 

 hedges and various low trees. The eggs are of a pale greenish-white, 

 spotted with orange brown. The young are chiefly reared upon 

 small caterpillars. 



The Bullfinch feeds almost exclusively from February to April 

 inclusive on the buds of various bushes and trees, in gardens and 

 fruit plantations on buds of gooseberry and currant bushes, buds 

 of plum, and occasionally pear and apple trees. Outside the garden 

 and fruit plantation bullfinches feed on the buds of hawthorn, bird 

 cherry, blackthorn and bullace, crab, larch, beech, etc. During 

 the remainder of the year the bullfinch feeds on weed seeds, such as 

 docks, thistles, hard heads, grasses, etc. Its attacks on fruit are 

 limited to the raspberry, the seeds, no doubt, being the object ; 

 but this is not frequently practised. The bill, strong and thick, 



B.N. E 



