of the dockweed, thistle, chickweed, groundsel, and nettle, and is also very 

 fond of the berries of the hawthorn, rose, elder, privet, and many others. 



The Bullfinch is a very handsome bird, and of striking appearance, its 

 gay colours contrasting most pleasingly with the foliage. It rarely flies far 

 at a time, but prefers to move about in short, jerky flights, or to hop from 

 twig to twig. Its flight is not rapid, and is rather undulating. 



The Bullfinch is in great request as a cage-bird, as it can readily be 

 taught to whistle various tunes, and is of a docile and confiding nature. 

 Both birds sing, but the female is not nearly so tuneful as her mate. When 

 singing, the cock bird sits very upright, every now and then flicking his 

 tail and jerking his wings and head, as if he were about to fly off. His song 

 is very pleasing and mellow, but is usually uttered in so low a tone as to 

 be audible at only a short distance. The call-note of the Bullfinch is a low, 

 plaintive whistle, full and rich but very monotonous, with a slightly descending 

 intonation. 



Bullfinches most probably pair for life, as at all seasons they may be 

 seen in pairs, and seem much attached to each other. During the breeding 

 season they retire to the thickets and dense shrubberies, and are unusually 

 shy and silent while the young are being reared. Nest-building commences 

 about the beginning of the last week in April, and eggs may be found about 

 the first of May. 



The nest is always placed in some dense spot, often in some holly, yew, 

 or boxwood tree ; plantations of young firs are also favoured spots, the nest 

 being placed on some flat branch ; occasionally a thick hedge of hawthorn or 

 blackthorn is chosen. The nest itself is a beautiful little structure, almost 

 entirely composed of slender twigs, generally birch, lined with fine rootlets. 

 The outer portion of the nest is very flat, almost like a miniature Wood 

 Pigeon's nest, and in the middle the cup of the nest is built, projecting above 

 the platform of twigs. Sometimes a feather or two, or a little wool and 

 horse-hair, are found in the lining, but rootlets only is the usual thing. 



The eggs are from four to six in number, much bluer in ground-colour 

 than those of its relations, except the Lesser Redpole ; they are spotted or 

 streaked with dark purplish brown, and with paler markings of pinkish 

 brown. In most specimens the markings form an irregular zone round the 

 larger end, but occasionally they are equally distributed over the entire surface. 

 They vary in length from '84 to '87 inch, and in breadth from '61 to -54 inch. 



The Bullfinch probably rears two broods in the season, as fresh eggs 

 may often be found as late as the beginning of July. 



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