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THE BULLFINCH. 

 (Pyrrhula europoea.) 



THE Bullfinch lives in summer in the mountains, and 

 descends in late autumn to the plains, where it meets its 

 far bigger relatives who come to us for the winter from 

 the Far North, and joins company with them in wood 

 and grove and garden, even in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of dwellings. When the sunshine glistens on 

 frost and snow, and these splendidly coloured birds settle 

 on a dry bough, the scene presents a lovely winter 

 landscape the impression of which is heightened by its 

 melancholy subdued cry, " deeu," or " beut, beut." In 

 captivity it learns to sing tunes. It is easily caught, for 

 it is incautious. 



In winter it visits plants, choosing the young wild 

 vines, buds, seeds of all kinds, berries including those 

 of the alder, and the wayfaring tree; it does not attack 

 weeds. In very severe winters, when starving, it will 

 also do mischief among the buds of the fruit-trees. 



It is frequently seen in winter. 



The Bullfinch has been causing much dissension in 

 and near an East Anglian district where I have lately 

 been staying. A net had been placed over the goose- 

 berry bushes to protect the blossom, and much indigna- 

 tion w 7 as caused early one morning by the sight of three 

 lusty Bullfinches within the meshes, and a quantity of 

 promising blossom on the ground. " There would be 

 no gooseberries whatever, this season ; it was positively 

 unbearable; sentiment was utterly misplaced." The 

 three birds were caught by the hand within the net, two 



