182 THE BULLFINCH. 



black. The black itself, however, varies very much in different 

 individuals. Some are a shining coal-black all over the body ; 

 ethers, only a smoky black, which is lighter on the belly; 

 others, again, have the brighter colour on the head, and the 

 duskier on the other parts of the body. Some black Bullfinches 

 are slightly marked with red on the belly ; others have the 

 belly entirely red ; and I have seen one in which, though the 

 head as far as the breast was black, and the rest of the body a 

 dusky smoke colour, the wings and tail were white. It was a 

 female ; a very handsome bird, and somewhat larger than the 

 Bedbreast. 



3. The Speckled Bullfinch, so called, because whether the 

 prevailing colour be black or white, it is covered with white 

 and grey spots. 



4. The Hybrid Bullfinch; the offspring of a young female 

 Bullfinch and a Canary-bird, inherits the form and plumage of 

 both parents, and sings delightfully, though not so loudly as a 

 good Canary-bird. It is, however, very rare, as it is difficult 

 to rear such broods. The male Canary-bird selected for such 

 a purpose, must be both very ardent and very attentive to its 

 young. Other varieties, regarded by some as separate species, 

 are the Large Bullfinch, which is about the size of a Thrush, 

 and the Middling or Common Bullfinch, as large as a Chaffinch. 

 As for a third variety, the Small Bullfinch, said to be still less 

 than a Chaffinch, I believe the idea to originate in merely an 

 accidental variation of size. This I can assert with the more 

 certainty, as I have been in the habit of inspecting every year 

 several hundreds of these birds, both wild and tame. I have 

 seen individuals as small as a Eedbreast, and others as large as 

 a Crossbill, which have come from the same nest. 



Habitat. The Bullfinch is common all over Europe, even as 

 far north as Sweden and Russia. In Germany it may be seen 

 generally in pairs, in all woody districts. In winter it migrates 

 in search of berries. 



When first taken, the Bullfinch may be allowed to range the 

 room with other birds, except some particular reason exist why 

 it should be confined in a cage. The shape and size of this are 

 of no consequence, as it is a quiet bird, and thrives under all 

 circumstances. It is, however, usual to put those which have 

 been taught, in a handsome cage of brass wire, and in a room 

 by themselves, as their artificial song might spoil that of other 

 birds, if within hearing. 



