128 THE BULLFINCH. 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The Bullfinch. 

 Loxia pyrrhula. LINN. 



THIS little bird, whose figure and colouring is too 

 well known to require description, is one of the 

 brightest plumaged natives of our woods. A 

 fine bullfinch, in full feather, is really a very 

 handsome little creature ; and in addition to his 

 attractive appearance, he has a teachable nature, 

 which makes him but too desirable a prize for 

 the bird-catcher. His native note is very sim- 

 ple; but he may be taught to whistle a variety 

 of tunes. Bewick says, that these birds are fre- 

 quently imported into this country from Ger- 

 many, where they are taught to articulate several 

 words with great distinctness. 



The bullfinch, like the robin, only migrates 

 in winter from his summer haunts in wood and 

 thicket, to approach nearer to the habitations of 

 man, and feed on the seeds and berries he finds 

 on cultivated ground. In the spring he may be 

 seen busily pecking at the buds of our fruit-trees ; 

 and multitudes are destroyed by the gardener. 



