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THE EULL-FINCH A BIRD 



plunderer. Its delight is in the embryo blossoms 

 wrapped up at this season in the bud of a tree ; 

 and it is very dainty and curious in its choice of 

 this food, seldom feeding upon two kinds at the 

 same time. It generally commences with the germs 

 of our larger and most early gooseberry ; and the 

 bright red breasts of four or five cock birds, quietly 

 feeding on the leafless bush, are a very pretty sight, 

 but the consequences are ruinous to the crop. When 

 the cherry buds begin to come forward, they quit 

 the gooseberry, and make tremendous havoc with 

 these. I have an early wall cherry, a mayduke by 

 reputation, that has for years been a great favourite 

 with the bull-finch family, and its celebrity seems 

 to be communicated to each successive generation. 

 It buds profusely, but is annually so stripped of its 

 promise by these feathered rogues, that its kind 

 might almost be doubted. The Orleans and green- 

 gage plums next form a treat, and draw their at- 

 tention from what remains of the cherry. Having 

 banquetted here awhile, they leave our gardens en- 

 tirely, resorting to the fields and hedges, where the 

 sloe bush in April furnishes them with food. May 

 brings other dainties, and the labours and business 

 of incubation withdraw them from our observation. 

 The idea that has been occasionally entertained, 

 that this bird selects only such buds as contain the 

 embryo of an insect, to feed on it, and thus free us 

 of a latent colony of caterpillars, is certainly not 



