ITS HABITS. 323 



The pine bullfinch is the tamest of birds, or, as some will 

 have it, the most stupid. M. Zetterstedt, when speaking of 

 it, says : " All its actions betoken stupidity, which at times is 

 carried so far, that it will not get out of the way of impend- 

 ing danger. More from slothfulness of disposition, than 

 affection for its young, it lies quiet in its nest, and looks at 

 the hand stretched out to take hold of it. Recently bereaved 

 of its home and eggs, it hops amongst the boughs as though 

 nothing had happened, and is forthwith ready to seek for 

 food." 



During the winter this bird is captured by all sorts of 

 means, one of which, that I myself have repeatedly seen 

 adopted, is of so palpable a nature, that it passes compre- 

 hension how it can allow itself to be thus beguiled. It is by 

 slipping a horse-hair snare affixed to the point of a fishing- 

 rod, or other light pole around its neck whilst feeding on 

 the berries in the crown of the tree overhead ; which operation 

 it seems in no way to resist ; and thus, without farther 

 ceremony, it is dragged to the ground. The better plan is to 

 place the noose between the bird's head and the bunch of 

 berries on which it is feasting, as in that case it almost always 

 captures itself. Strange to say, even should it succeed in 

 extricating its head from the noose, it will only hop to another 

 branch of the tree, and presently again allow the noose 

 to be put about its neck. It is on record, indeed, that the 

 same bird has been actually captured three several times in 

 the course of the day, without showing any signs of fear. To 

 avoid alarming the rest of the flock for at times it happens 

 that, on seeing a companion fluttering in the snare, the others 

 take wing it is best to commence with the lowermost bird ; 



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