THE BULLFINCH. 35 



The form of this bird is remarkably heavy, 

 with a large head, and a strong, thick, 

 shortj and hooked bill, on which account, 

 as well as the beauty of its plumage, and 

 the facility with which it may be taught 

 to pronounce different words, it has ob- 

 tained the appellation of the English 

 parrot. 



The top of the head, with a circle round 

 the bill, the tail, and the wings, are of a 

 deep glossy black, the latter having a bar 

 of white across them ; the back is of an 

 ash colour, incHning to that of a dove, and 

 the breast and belly are red ; in the female, 

 however, the colours, though arranged in 

 exactly the same manner, are not near so 

 bright, the belly and breast being paler, 

 and more brown than in the male ; in both, 

 the bills are blackish, and the legs of a 

 deep brown. 



Bewick says, " that the bullfinch, when 

 confined, sometimes changes its plumage 

 and becomes wholly black, especially when 

 fed with hemp seed, and there have been 

 instances of bullfinches in a state of nature, 

 which were entirely white." 



