CAGED BULLFINCHES 97 



and are surrounded by water. On the other hand, 

 the goldfinches are very frequently to be seen in 

 the lower grounds, and there are generally one or 

 two pairs which breed in the vicinity of my house. 

 Bullfinches are to be found in most parts of 

 England, and many hundreds are trapped 

 annually. It is asserted that two kinds of this 

 bird are to be met with in this country, the one 

 larger than the other, though the plumage of both 

 is exactly similar. I am very much inclined to 

 doubt the correctness of this. All birds vary in 

 size more or less according to age, and I see no 

 reason why bullfinches should be any exception 

 to the. rule. Even birds of the same year 

 frequently differ in size. 



Bewick asserts that, when in confinement, 

 bullfinches are at times apt to change their 

 plumage and become almost black, and that this 

 is especially the case when they are fed on 

 hemp-seed. Although the poet Thomson refers 

 to the song of the bullfinch in the following 

 line, l The mellow bullfinch answers from the 

 grove,' this bird is not by any means remarkable 

 for its vocal powers when wild, although when 

 kept in confinement it very readily learns to 

 whistle, or 'pipe,' as it is termed, tunes. Its 

 natural song has been correctly described as 

 merely a plaintive whistle. The pine grosbeak 

 is sometimes styled the 'pine bullfinch,' but it 

 is so excessively rare a visitor to this country as 

 to hardly deserve a place amongst British birds. 



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