190 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



energy and strength. The outline of the head and 

 bill are fine, and the latter is strong in proportion 

 to its size. Its bright black eye has a somewhat 

 prying expression. It feeds on corn, seeds, and 

 all sorts of berries, and the buds of most trees. 

 It is very destructive in gardens, throughout the 

 spring season ; devouring the blossom buds of the 

 various kinds of fruit, so as to destroy all prospects 

 of the crop. Those buds which produce the leaves 

 are passed over, and the foliage expands as usual, 

 but the tree bears no fruit. From various autho- 

 rities it appears that the bulfinch is a more decided 

 bud -destroyer than any other of our birds. In winter 

 it feeds on hips and haws and other seeds. These 

 mischievous propensities make these birds serious 

 foes to the orchards and gardens of the fruit dis- 

 tricts ; as is shown by such a note as the following, 

 taken from " The Zoologist, for 1849." "'Can you 

 recommend any method of overcoming bulfinches, 

 which last year have committed more ravages 

 than usual in a secluded parish in the north of 

 Devon, where they can harbour in surrounding 

 plantations ? Any advice on the subject, will be 

 thankfully received by the clergyman of the parish, 

 for the sake of his own crops and those of his 

 poorer neighbours, in future." 



An amusing note, appended to this, informs us 

 that a stuffed cat, " placed in a conspicuous situa-- 



