314 CLASS AVES. 



chrysalids, the usual food of other young birds of this order ; 

 and if they were hatched early in the season, it is obvious 

 that grain would neither be so plentiful, or so fit as at a later 

 period. 



Bulfinches that are to be taught to whistle, should be taken 

 with the nest when nearly feathered ; they must then be kept 

 on moss, and perfectly clean. The best food for them is a 

 paste made of sopped bread, hempseed, and bruised rapeseed, 

 the whole mixed up with yolk of egg ; the hempseed, how- 

 ever, should be used sparingly, as otherwise it is pernicious, 

 although these birds are extremely fond of it. As the young 

 males, before their first molt, have nothing by which they may 

 be distinguished from the females, a few feathers may be 

 plucked from the breast, which will soon be replaced, and 

 will sufliciently indicate the sex. The male bulfinch and the 

 canary will breed together ; but there seem to be considera- 

 ble patience, care, and attention, necessary on the part of their 

 keeper, to eflFect a union. Independently of the large variety 

 of the bulfinch mentioned in the text, individuals, black, 

 white, and spotted, are sometimes seen, particularly among 

 those bred in confinement, under which circumstances the 

 deviations of nature seem most prone to display themselves. 



Bulfinches are taught to pipe with a bird-organ, or german 

 flute. It is said that they are capable of improving an air 

 they may have been taught, by adopting tunes and graces of 

 their own ; it is much less doubtful, however, that they will 

 acquire an incorrect melody, if the teacher be inefficient or 

 careless, jNIany of these educated birds are imported into 

 this country, annually, from Germany, and afford great gra- 

 tification by their pleasing imitative faculty. 



We insert from the pencil of Major Smith, a figure of 

 Pyrrhula Sangni7iirostr/s, which 'is the Red-billed Grosbeak 

 (Loxia) of Latham. The bill is thick, passing far back at 

 the base, and deep blood-red. Forehead and chin, black. 



