THE BULL-FINCH GROSS-BEAK. 71 



considerable resemblance to the female, only they want the 

 black upon the head and the red on the under part of the 

 males ; but they acquire those tints in about two months 

 after leaving the nest. As is the case with all birds in which 

 there is a considerable difference in the plumage of the sexes, 

 the mature birds are also subject to varieties of colour. 



The bull-finch is a bird, with the form and appearance of 

 which, and also with its softly modulated whistle, every one 

 is familiar as a cage-bird ; but as a wild tenant of our woods 

 it is perhaps more rarely seen or heard, at least for the greater 

 part of the year, than any other bird which is as generally 

 distributed, and as numerous in all its localities. 



Though called a finch in common language, it has neither 

 the appearance nor the habits of the finches. In shape it is 

 the most compact and neat, and expressive of energy and 

 strength of all our little birds. The outline of its head and 

 bill is as fine as that of the most handsome of the hawks j but 

 the bright black eye has a good deal of the prying expression 

 of that of the magpie. The bill is, with the exception of 

 that of the eagles and hawks, much stronger in proportion 

 than the bill of any other British bird. The attitudes and 

 motions of the bird, while busy picking buds or berries, ara 

 also very elegant ; and it has a great command of itself on its 

 perch. 



It inhabits almost all thickly wooded places, and also brakes 

 and hedges, if they are not in very exposed situations ; but it 

 every where inhabits hideling, till necessity drives it from its 

 cover. It is not generally found in the very tallest trees, but 

 rather in the largest branches of those that are of very close 

 growth ; and its nest is placed in the thickest shade, and at 

 no great elevation above the ground. The structure is rude 

 and artless, as the shelter of the bird while sitting, and of the 

 young, consists rather in the situation in which the nest is 

 placed than in the nest itself. It is formed of twigs, and 



