16 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



BULLFINCH S NEST. 



A few seasons ago I found the nest of 

 a Bullfinch in a stunted yew growing on 

 the edge of a wood. When the young 

 had been hatched I fixed a hiding tent 

 near by and spent three days in making 

 observations and taking photographs. 

 The old birds always called to each 

 other as they approached the nest, 

 brought the caterpillar and other insect 

 food, which they had collected in the 

 crop, and regurgitated it for the young. 

 During the first day male and female 



came turn and turn about, but through- 

 out the second and third days the latter 

 never once put in an appearance, nor 

 did I hear her utter a single call note. 

 In all probability she had fallen a victim 

 to some stealthy sparrow hawk or 

 marauding cat. Her mate fed the 

 chicks about every quarter of an hour, 

 but did not appear to utter his plaintive 

 call note so frequently. 



The Bullfinch builds a somewhat 

 curious nest, consisting of a platform 

 of slender birch twigs, cunningly inter- 

 laced with a depression in the middle. 

 It is neatly lined with fine fibrous 

 roots, and, occasionally, hairs. The eggs 

 are of a pale greenish blue ground 

 colour, spotted, speckled, and some- 

 times streaked with purplish brown, and 

 number from four to six. 



The song of this bird is very soft 

 and short, and its plaintive call note, 

 frequently uttered, sounds something 

 like poneet. 



