194 THE BULLFINCH. 



wings and tail are black, but diversified with steely-blue. 

 In shape the bullfinch may be characterized as the most 

 compact and neat, and the most expressive of strength and 

 energy, of all our little birds. The outline of its head and 

 bill is as fine as that of the handsomest of the hawks ; and 

 its bill, with the exception of that of the hawk or eagle, is 

 made stronger in proportion than the bill of any other 

 British songster. Its manners, as Mr. Wood remarks, are 

 not peculiarly brisk and lively, nor even varied, but they 

 are social and pleasing ; and it is very entertaining to fol- 

 low them to their native haunts, and study their habits. 

 Heard from a distance, the voice of the male sounds soft 

 and mellow ; that of the female closely resembles it, but 

 may readily be distinguished by a practised ear. While 

 they are singing, a smart sidelong motion of the tail may 

 be noticed. And when the female is sitting, her mate will 

 remain for hours together perched on a neighbouring 

 branch, sounding his plaintive note, apparently for her 

 amusement. Unless you see him singing, you lose the 

 most finished and interesting part of the performance ; for 

 he puffs out his plumage, and makes strange contortions 

 ^vith his head. However, if he discovers any person ob- 

 serving him, he shrinks to his ordinary size, signals to his 

 mate, and, accompanied by her, betakes himself to a dis- 

 tant tree, where the fond but timid couple remain, out of 

 sight but within hearing, conversing with each other in 

 mellow notes, and waiting for the departure of the 

 intruder. 



A favourite bird with the poets is the melodious Linnet, 



