168 FRINGILLIDJE. 



or its summer growth been materially injured : we may thus 

 lose our fruit this year, yet the tree survives, and hope lives, 

 too, that we may be more fortunate the next." But it is 

 certain that the whole crop is not always destroyed, and it 

 has been suggested by Neville Wood (Orn. Text-Book, p. 61) 

 and others that the operation of this bird is in some instances 

 even beneficial, when, as not unfrequently happens, it only 

 thins the superabundant buds, and the pruning the tree or 

 bush thus receives (being just such as a judicious gardener, 

 if he could reach the branches, would himself perform) 

 increases the produce of the rest. At any rate, taking the 

 most exaggerated view of the damage done, it may be safely 

 said to be less serious than is frequently the effect of a single 

 frost somewhat later in the season, and the deficiency of the 

 fruit-crop due to this last cause is doubtless often wrongly 

 ascribed to the Bullfinch. The buds of the gooseberry are 

 the first to be attacked by this bird, and then generally those 

 of the cherry, after which it turns to those of the plum, 

 while those of the pear and apple come in for their share of its 

 attention so soon as they are in a sufficiently forward state ; 

 but the peach and kindred trees are observed to be always 

 neglected.* 



The charges brought against this bird are so serious as to 

 demand the first and fullest consideration. There remains 

 to be said that except during the short season when the buds 

 are maturing its food is in no way detrimental to man, but 

 rather the reverse, consisting as it does the greater part of 

 the year of the leaves and seeds of countless plants, many 

 of which are noxious weeds, such as docks, thistles, ragwort, 

 groundsel, chickweed and plantain. As autumn ripens the 

 various wild berries, those of the dog-rose in particular, 

 they are greedily sought by it in winter. After March it is 

 seldom seen out of the deep woodlands which form so secure 

 a refuge for it, or at any rate of such shrubberies and plan- 



* Shooting Bullfinches, or other birds, as they sit on a branch, probably does 

 more harm than they can do to the trees, for nearly every twig that is hit by a 

 pellet of shot sustains a permanent injury, while that inflicted by the bird, how- 

 ever serious, is but temporary. 



