16 A Natural Hijlory of 



they only take the blowing Buds, and by that 

 Means do great Damage to the Gardeners ; 

 who, therefore hate and deftroy them, as a 

 great Peft of their Gardens. They fay, in 

 ibme Part of the Kingdom, a Reward is given 

 by the Church- Wardens for every Bullfinch 

 that's killed ; if fo, that may be affigned as 

 one Realbn of their Scarcity ; being lefs com- 

 mon than moft other Singing Birds that 

 Breed with us. 



The Marks of the Cock and Hen. 



THE Cock IS in Bignefs, equal to the 

 Hen, but hath a flatter Crown, and ex- 

 cels her in Beauty of his Colours ; a lovely 

 Scarlet, or Crimfon, adorns his BreafI: ; the 

 Feathers on the Crown of the Head, and thofe 

 that Compafs the Bill, are of brighter Black 

 than thole of the Hen : If both are feen to- 

 gether the one may very eafily be known 

 from the other ; the Colours in the Cock 

 being much more Refplendant than in the 

 Hen ; but vvhilft the Birds are young, it is 

 more difficult to diftinguifh them : One of the 

 liireft Ways is, to pull off a few Feathers 

 from their Breafts when they are about three 

 Weeks old, and in about ten or twelve Days 

 after, you will perceive the Feathers to come 

 where you have pulled, of a curious Red, if 



a Cock J 



