THE PINE GROSBEAK. 53 



while, to my mind, few even of these sifted records are entitled to acceptance." 



It seems to me that even if the species has been shot here, the probability is 

 that (in every case) the examples have either escaped or been freed from confine- 

 ment ; inasmuch as it is not only imported from time to time as a cage-bird, but 

 in my short experience (commencing in July, 1896) * the birds, though wonderfully 

 tame and intelligent, are too powerful and destructive to be trusted with weaker 

 companions, and eat so voraciously that their food makes a distinct difference in 

 one's expenses : they are like most insect-eating finches, very fond of earthworms 

 and green food ; but the quantity of sunflower-seed and hemp which they devour 

 in a day is astonishing, whilst their chief amusement in my aviary consists in 

 tearing ivy to pieces. A man in a hurry to part with such birds would be very 

 likely to turn them loose. 



Family FRINGILLIDsE. Subfamily FRINC.ILIJN/E. 



THE BULLFINCH. 



Pyrrhula ciiro/xca. VlElLL. 



DR. SHARPE gives the distribution of this species as follows : " Western, 

 Central, and Southern Europe. The eastern range is undefined, but it 

 apparently ranges as far as Central Russia." The larger race known to aviculturists 

 as " Russian Bullfinch " is regarded by the Doctor as a distinct species, which he 

 calls " Pyrrhula pyrrlntla" I must say I do not approve of this adoption of the 

 generic name for the species, and should prefer to follow Brehni in calling it 

 Pyrrhula major : it occurs in Northern and Eastern Europe, and in Siberia. 



The Bullfinch, or Bloodolf, as it is called in Norfolk, is pretty generally dis- 

 tributed in all well-wooded districts throughout the British Isles. 



* My friend Mr. James H. Planing, of Ontario, very kindly sent me half a do/en specimens, all of which 

 reached me in good health. 



VOL. H. K 



