534 AVES—BULFINCH... LINNET. 



The others of this genus in the United States are' the pine grosbeak, the 

 blue grosbeak, the rose-breasted grosbeak, the evening grosbeak, and the 

 spotted grosbeak. 



THE BULFINCHi 



Is one of the most common of European birds. When at its full growth it 

 measures, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, six inches, of 

 which the tail is two. It has a short black bill, very strong and crooked, 

 the upper part hanging over the under side, like that of a hawk ; the tongue 

 is short, and the eyes of a hazel color ; the head and neck in proportion to 

 the body are larger than in the generality of small birds, from which, most 

 probably, they derived their name. In some places they are called ropes ; 

 in others, thick-bills, and in some red-hoops, or tony-hoops, probably from 

 their wild hooping kind of note. 



The bulfinch makes its nest of an ordinary mean fabric, in bushes, in 

 which the female lays four or five eggs of a bluish color, with dark brown 

 and reddish spots. The nest so closely resembles the surrounding foliage in 

 color, that it is not easily to be discovered. In the summer it mostly fre- 

 quents woods, and the more retired places; but in winter it approaches 

 gardens and orchards, where in spring it makes great havoc among the buds 

 of ti;ees. It is probable, however, that it attacks the buds for the sake of 

 the included insects. 



The cock is in size equal to the hen, but has a flatter crown, and excels 

 her in the beauty of his colors. In a state of nature, this bird has but three 

 cries, all of which are unpleasant ; but if man designs to instruct it metho- 

 dically, and accustoms it to fine, mellower, and more lengthened strains, it 

 will listen with attention ; and the docile bird, whether male or female, 

 without relinquishing its native airs, will imitate exactly, and sometimes 

 even surpass, its master. It also learns to articulate words and sentences. 



THE EUROPEAN LINNET. 9 



This favorite bird, which is universally admired for the melody of its 

 voice, is in length, from the point of the bill to the end of the tail, five 



1 Loxia vvlgaris, Lin. 



^Frmgillacannahina,'Li-s. Th^ genus FVing-illa has the bill short, stout, strais^ht, 

 and conical ; upper mandible gibbous, depressed above, a little inclined at the point; 

 nostrils basal, round, placed near the forehead, and partially concealed by the feathers in 

 front; tarsus shorter than the middle toe, and the ibre toes entirely divided; virings short, 

 the third and fourth quills the longest ; tail of varied form. 



