322 THE PINE BULLFINCH. 



aid of the Pust-ror, that is, a hollow reed, out of which a 

 pea or blunt shaft is propelled by the breath. 



The Danish fauna embraces also the Karmin-Dompap, or 

 Carmine-Bullfinch (P. erythrina, Temm.), a denizen of 

 Finland, Livonia, Esthonia, &c., which has in one instance 

 been met with on the island of Sylt, off the west coast of 

 Schleswig. 



The Pine Bullfinch (Tall-bit, Sw, ; P. Enucleator, Temm.) 

 was only a winter visitor with us, and not a constant one 

 either; for two or three years might elapse without our 

 seeing a single individual. At times, however, they ap- 

 peared in such numbers, that the country was inundated 

 with them, and multitudes were slaughtered. Swedish natu- 

 ralists tell us the proper home of this bird is the northern 

 portion of Scandinavia ; but I rather suspect that for the 

 most part it breeds farther to the eastward in Russia or 

 Siberia. I judge so, because travellers describe it as some- 

 what scarce in the forests of northern Lapland. Only a few 

 are supposed to migrate. 



The pine bullfinch, according to Ekstrom, is amongst the 

 first of the Scandinavian songsters. It sings at times 

 during the night, as well as the day, from which cause it 

 is often called Vaka, or watcher. Its song is so remarkably 

 beautiful, as to have attracted the attention of Tegner the 

 greatest of Swedish poets. 



Hur Yakan sj linger genom lunden ! 

 Den sangen ar fran Valhalls strand. 



Which may be thus rendered : 



Hear how the Vaka warbles in the grove ! 

 The song is from the shores of Valhall. 



