58 THE BULLFINCH— THE ORTOLAN. 



THE BULLFINCH, 



Although small, is a beautiful object. In the male, the head, 

 wings, and tail, are principally black; the throat and breast, a 

 deep crimson. The colours of the female are much fainter, 

 and she is considerably inferior in beauty. This bird is common 

 in most parts of the European continent, but is somewhat scarce 

 in England. In the countries where it abounds, it frequents 

 orchards and gardens, for the sake of the insects which feed 

 upon the foliage of trees and plants, and thereby renders an 

 essential service to the proprietors. 



The bullfinch is not remarkable for the agreeableness or the 

 variety of its natural notes, but when tamed is wonderfully 

 docile, and possesses so eminent a talent for imitation, that it 

 may be taught to whistle any tune with the greatest exactness. 



" I know a curious person," says the author of the iEdonolo- 

 gie, " who having whistled some airs quite plain to a bullfinch, 

 was surprised to hear the bird add such graceful tones, that the 

 master could scarcely recognise his own music, and acknow- 

 ledged that the scholar excelled him." 



THE ORTOLAN 



Is a bird which has acquired an extraordinary degree of 

 celebrity, from the delicacy of its flesh. The plumage, on the 

 upper part, is of a chesnut colour mixed with black ; the under 

 parts are of a dusky white. These birds are common in France 

 and Italy, and are found in most countries of Europe, but not in 

 Great Britain. In their migrations from one country to another, 

 numbers are caught, and fattened for the table. When 

 thoroughly fed, it weighs sometimes three ounces, and is ac- 

 counted the most delicious morsel which the culinary art can 

 prepare ; but it would not perhaps be equally agreeable to every 

 one's taste, as it is little else than an entire lump of fat. 



The birds commonly distinguished by the appellation of the 

 finch kind, are divided into above a hundred well-known species, 

 and undoubtedly there are many others unknown to our orni- 

 thologists. Of these, the goldfinch is one of the most beautiful, 

 the most docile, and the most harmonious. This charming little 

 songster is too well known to require any description. The 

 species is widely diffused ; for we find it an inhabitant of almost 

 every quarter of the old continent, although it abounds princi- 

 pally in Europe. 



The finch genus comprehends a great variety of foreign birds, 

 some of which are remarkable for the beauty of their plumage, 

 and others for their harmony. Among these, the canary-bird 

 is universally known and esteemed. Its name indicates its on- 



