COMMON BULLFINCH PINE BULLFINCH. 89 



it in the old hawthorn woods of the Phoenix Park, and easily 

 decoyed them to our vicinity by imitating their melancholy 

 whistle. 



From its decided and beautiful colouring of velvety black, 

 pure white, grey, and bright red, the bullfinch is a very hand- 

 some species, and one much sought after as a cage -bird. The 

 song, when heard in its wild state, is very low and plaintive, 

 but the call -note of 



" The mellow bullfinch, 

 Answering from the grove," 



is the one we are most acquainted with. However sweet and 

 mellow, it cannot be classed with the other members of the 

 Fringillidae remarkable for song ; and it is only when taught to 

 whistle that it attains such an enviable position as a songster. 



From Germany thousands of these birds are exported to 

 London and Paris every spring, where they bring prices ave- 

 raging from one to ten pounds, according to the excellence 

 of their pleasing piping melody. In many instances a paper 

 containing a description of the songs piped is handed to the 

 purchaser. With such skill and labour are these birds taught, 

 that they will pipe at the desire of the teacher ; and so docile, 

 that the greatest delight is displayed when noticed by the kind 

 and attentive owner. 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 87 THE PINE BULLFINCH. 



Pyrrhula enudeator. Selby. 

 Bouvreuil dur-bec. Temm. 



THIS fine species, so exceedingly rare in its occurrence in the 

 British islands, has been obtained in one single instance in 

 the vicinity of Belfast, December, 1819* (in the neighbour- 

 hood of which town so many rare wanderers have been re- 

 marked). 



It is a fine-coloured species, and the largest in size of the 

 family to which it belongs, and by its describers is recorded 

 as being similar in habits to the preceding, and'in being also 

 possessed of a full deep tone whilst singing. 



Habitat Northern Europe. 



* Thompson. 



