I5i U.HNCH. INSESSORES. PYRRHULA. 337 



autumn and winter, till the return of spring induces them to 

 pair, and continue their species. The food of the Bullfinch Food, 

 during summer and autumn consists of seeds; but in the 

 winter and spring, it chiefly supports itself on the buds of 

 various trees and shrubs, particularly on those of the white 

 thorn, all the varieties of the plum,^the larch, and birch. 

 On this account it is particularly injurious to gardens, and is 

 often the depredator, when the comparatively innocent Blue- 

 cap (Titmouse) suffers for the crime. I have known a pair 

 of these birds to strip a considerable-sized plumtree of every 

 bud in the space of two days. These buds are not swallowed 

 whole, but first minutely divided by the tomia of their pow- 

 erful bill. The Bullfinch forms a loose shallow nest of small Nest, &c. 

 sticks, lined with a few fibres of root, in a low tree, or in 

 the thickest under- wood, and lays four or five bluish-white 

 eggs, spotted with pale orange-brown. Its usual note-call 

 is a plaintive whistle, and, when feeding, it utters a low 

 short twitter. Its song is very soft and pleasing, but deli- 

 vered in such an under-tone, as to be inaudible at a short 

 distance ; and from hence few common observers are aware 

 that it possesses a native song. Under confinement it may 

 be taught to whistle a variety of tunes, and great numbers 

 thus educated are annually imported from Germany. 

 When caged, it sometimes becomes wholly black, an effect 

 attributed to its being fed too profusely with hemp seed. 

 In its wild state, varieties more or less white are frequently 

 met with. Captain MITFORD (to whom I have before al- 

 luded in this work) killed one, of which both the wings were 

 white. 



It is a native of the northern parts of Europe, and is only 

 known in the more southerly provinces as a bird of passage. 



PLATE 54. Fig. 1. Male bird. Natural size. 



Bill brownish-black. Crown of the head, base of the bill, General 

 throat, wings, and tail velvet-black, tinged with violet- tion. np " 

 purple. \,'i|K> of the neck and back fine bluish-grey ; 



VOL. I. 



