THE FINCHES 99 



not only in its song but in its conversation also, should not that be 

 reckoned in with it ? 



Many, it is true perhaps most will think that the prelude here, 

 as it may at any time become, is superior to the actual symphony, and 

 in record to the point under consideration, opinions must a good deal 

 depend on whether the artistic or musical craving is most strongly 

 developed in the soul of the listener, who, however a combination 

 not always easy here should contrive to be a see-er also. But be 

 this as it may, few will dispute that Pyrrhula, in his person his full 

 masculine person I would say is an honour to the Finch family. 

 Were he only as the female is, still he would be a sightly bird, but 

 being as he is, who shall describe him ? Luckily there is no need to, 

 for though not, in England, as common as one could wish not like the 

 chaffinch or greenfinch still, but once seen he is not to be forgotten, 

 and there is hardly a fruit-grower in the country who has not been 

 favoured, at least to this extent, whilst on most the privilege has been 

 bestowed with a less jejune hand. 



The grand feature is, of course, the breast, or rather the whole 

 under surface, as well as the sides of the body, with a charming upper 

 encroachment almost into the region of the nape, and of this splendid 

 development nothing that would not do it wrong can be said, except 

 this, that it is the work of a great colourist. Nor can any one be in 

 error as to the motif of the thing, its true meaning. To see it is 

 to know, at once, what the bird does with it. No more than if 

 Mr. Pepys were to stand before us in one of his new " Jackanape 

 coats" ("cost me twenty pounds " or so), can we doubt on what point, 

 in this wooing, the stress will be laid. The attack must be frontal and 

 it is. 1 Yet not exclusively so ; to a certain extent it may be said to be 

 from the rear also, for whilst the soft feathers of that incomparable 

 facade, in whose very quality there is something, even when they lie 

 close and sleek, as they sometimes do, which suggests puffiness, are 

 puffed now to the very limit of this capacity increasing, almost 



1 See Jenner Weir, as referred to by Darwin in the Descent of Man. 



