318 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Names Eggs Capable of instruction. 



hazel-colour; the head and neck in proportion 

 to the body larger than the generality of small 

 birds, from which, most probably, they derived 

 their name. In some places they are called 

 ropes ; in others, thick-bills, and in some hoops, 

 probably from their wild hooping kind of note. 



The bulfinch makes its nest, of ordinary meaa 

 fabric, in bushes, in which, in May, the female 

 lays five or six eggs, of a bluish colour, with dark 

 brown and reddish spots. In the summer it 

 mostly frequents woods, and the more retired 

 places; but in winter it approaches gardens and 

 orchards, where it makes great havoc among the 

 buds of the trees. 



The cock is in size equal to the hen, but has a 

 flatter crown, and excels her in the beauty of his 

 colours. In a state of nature this bird has but 

 three cries, all of which are unpleasant: but if 

 man deigns to instruct it methodically, and ac- 

 custom it to fine, mellower, and more lengthened 

 strains, it will listen with attention; and the do- 

 cile bird, whether male or female, wishout relin- 

 quishing its native airs, \\ill imitate exactly, and 

 sometimes even surpass its master. " I know a 

 curious person," says a celebrated author, " who 

 having whistled some airs quite plain to a bul- 

 finch, was agreeably surprised to hear the bird 

 add such graceful turns, that the master could 

 scarcely recognise his own music, and acknow- 

 ledged that the scholar excelled him." It must, 

 however, be confessed, that, if the bultiuch bu 



