233 



BULLFINCH. 



CHAPTER XVI. 



FINCHES. BULLFINCH, GOLDFINCH, SISKIN. 



FT1HE BULLFINCH (Pyrrhula pileatci), variously called 

 JL Alp, Nope, Pope, Tony or Red Hoop, Coal Hood. In 

 this species we have a very common representative of the 

 genus Pyrrhula, a short, stout-necked, rather clumsily- 

 made bird, not so agile and lively as the Finches gene- 

 rally, not so elegant in form, nor so graceful in its motions, 

 and yet very much admired on account of the richness and 

 beauty of its plumage, and its good vocal powers. Mudie 

 says that it is l in shape the most compact and neat, and 

 expressive of energy and strength of all our little birds. 

 The outline of its head and bill is as fine as that of the 

 most handsome of the Hawks ; but the bright black eye 

 has a good deal of the prying expression of that of the 

 Magpie. The bill is, with the exception of that of the 

 Eagles and Hawks, made stronger in proportion than the 

 bill of any other British bird. The attitudes and motions 

 of the bird, while picking buds or berries, are also very 

 elegant ; and it has a great command of itself on the perch.' 

 And Wood furnishes us with this characteristic sketch, evi- 

 dently the result of close personal observation : 



The manners of this species are not remarkably brisk and lively, 

 nor even varied, but they are social and pleasing, and nothing can 



