BULLFINCH. INSESSORES. PYRRHULA. 335 



such a situation, viz. in the magnificent grounds of Invercauld 

 in Aberdeen shire, PENNANT mentions having met with these 

 birds, and further states his belief that they bred there, from 

 having seen them early in the month of August. Such a 

 conclusion, however, ought scarcely to be inferred from this 

 fact, as a sufficient interval of time had elapsed for tjiese in- 

 dividuals to have emigrated from Norway, or other northern 

 countries, to Scotland, after incubation, as they are known 

 to breed as early as May in their native haunts. 



I have made many inquiries respecting these birds, during 

 excursions in Scotland, but cannot learn that the nest has 

 ever been found ; and indeed from the intelligence obtained 

 from gamekeepers, and those most likely to have made ob- 

 servations connected with ornithology, it appears that they 

 are very rarely seen, and can only be regarded as occasional 

 visitants. 



They inhabit the regions of the arctic circle, and are very 

 plentiful in Sweden, Norway, and similarly situated countries 

 of Europe, Asia, and North America, living in the pine fo- 

 rests, which there cover immense tracts. Their food consists Food - 

 of the seeds of the various firs and pines, as well as other al- 

 pine seeds and berries, and the buds of trees. They build 

 in trees, but not far from the ground, and the nest, formed Nest &c - 

 of dry sticks and small twigs, lined with feathers, contains 

 generally four white eggs. 



PLATE 53 *. Fig. 1. A young male bird, of the natural 



size. 



Bill black. Head, neck, throat, breast, and rump bright General 

 crimson-red. Back and scapulars black, the feathers tion. 

 deeply edged with crimson-red. Wing-coverts tipped 

 with crimson, forming two bars across the wings. Quills 

 and tail feathers greyish-black, edged with pale crimson. 

 Flanks, belly, and vent greyish-white tinged with crim- 

 son. 

 In the adult male, those parts which were crimson-red in 



