1 88 THE BULLFINCH 



and damsons, cherries, particularly " May Duke," sometimes in 

 autumn or early winter, apples, notably " Councellor," and med- 

 lars, attention being also given to pears and sometimes black cur- 

 rants. The bullfinch also attacks the buds of the sloe and bullace, 

 birdcherry, hawthorn, larch and beech in their order of swelling, 

 and for about six months lives almost entirely on fruit buds. It 

 also takes some ripe raspberries, blackberries, hips and haws, 

 privet and rowanberries, chiefly for the seeds. 



As " set-offs " against the bullfinch depredations in gardens, fruit- 

 plantations and orchards, six months' feeding on various weed-seeds, 

 such as chickweed and groundsel in flower-bud, sow-thistle, plan- 

 tain, dock, ragwort, thistle, nettle, and knapweed, have to be con- 

 sidered, and also insect-food of the young bullfinches. On the 

 question of utility in these respects the valuation by fruit-growers 

 is that many seeds of weeds pass through birds undigested, and these 

 seeds are distributed by the birds, while in the matter of insects 

 forming the chief support of the young of the bullfinch, it is con- 

 tended that they are fed on seeds softened by their parents and in 

 forgetfulness of the latter not " softening " weed-seeds for their 

 own use. 



The bullfinch is somewhat local in distribution and most plentiful 

 near woods protected by game preservers, where it multiplies in 

 safety, and this accounts for its comparative abundance and even 

 increase in certain districts. During late summer, autumn, and 

 early winter, bullfinches rove about in families of five or six. At 

 these times they may easily be caught in a trap-cage (Fig. in), 

 with a " call bird." Captured in this way, the plumage of the birds 

 assures for them a ready sale, particularly as they are easily tamed, 

 taught to pipe, and even to articulate words. Accomplished in these 

 respects, they are sold at high prices, as much as 4 or 5 being 

 demanded for a single bird. 



After the birds pair the call-bird of the trap-cage has little 

 allurement on any bullfinch but the unmated. At this time, a 

 pair only do immense mischief in a garden, fruit 'plantation and 

 orchard, practically rendering the bushes and trees fruitless through 

 taking the buds. The birds may be secured by means of birdlime, 

 which is made either from holly -bark or from boiled oil. 



Holly-bark birdlime is " usually prepared by boiling holly bark 

 ten or twelve hours, and when the green bark is separated from the 

 other, it is covered up for a fortnight in a moist place, then pounded 

 into a rough paste, and washed in a running stream till no motes 

 appear. It is next put up to ferment for four or five days, and re- 

 peatedly skimmed. To prepare it for use, a third part of nut-oil 

 or thin grease must be incorporated with it over the fire " (Encyclo- 

 pedia Britannica). 



Linseed oil birdlime is prepared by placing linseed oil in an old 

 pot or vessel that will stand the fire without breaking, and not more 



