:208 Fringillidce. 



89. BULLFINCH (Fyrrhula vulgar is). 



The scientific name, Pyrrhula, is said to signify ' a red or fine- 

 coloured bird/ which will describe its general hue sufficiently 

 well ; but it has also been interpreted as meaning ' fine- coloured 

 tail,' from irvppos, 'the colour of flame,' and ovpa, 'a tail' (B.O.U.); 

 anything remarkable, however, in the colour of the tail the bird 

 does not possess.* ' Bullfinch' doubtless means 'large Finch/ 

 just as a 'Bullfrog 'is a large frog, and a 'Bullrnsh'a large 

 species of rush. In Sweden it is known as Domherre, and in 

 Norway as Dompap; both Swedish and Norwegian designations 

 mean ' a Canon of the Church.' ' Perhaps so called/ says quaint 

 old Pontoppidan, ' for its melodious voice, resembling an organ, 

 though not loud enough to fill the choir of a cathedral where 

 the canons sing their Hone. 1 In France it is known as Le 

 Bouvreuil ; in Germany, Rothburstujer Gimpel ; in Italy, as 

 Ciufolotto ; and in Portugal, as Pisco chilreiro, ' Chirping-finch/ 

 and Cardeal, ' Cardinal/ from its red dress. Handsome as this 

 bird is, and sweet as is its song, I fear we must confess it to be 

 one of the most mischievous of the feathered race, for the buds 

 of fruit trees are unhappily its favourite food ; and so well can 

 it ply its strong parrot-shaped beak, that in an incredibly short 

 time it will strip a tree of all its fruit-bearing buds, and therefore 

 of all prospect of fruit. It is on this account most hateful to 

 gardeners in early spring, at which season alone it has the 

 courage to come so near human habitations, for it is essentially 

 a shy, timid, retiring bird, and loves the depths of dark woods, 

 and the thickest of hedges for its retreat. Indeed, excepting in 

 spring, it feeds on the seeds of weeds, and supports its young 

 with caterpillars and insects ; and it should not be forgotten 

 that during by far the larger portion of the year it is conferring 

 benefits on man. It is sparingly distributed throughout the 

 county, and its plumage is too well known to require comment. 



' List of British Birds/ by Committee of B.O.U., p. 56. 



