Engliili Singing-Birds. 15 



Of the Bullfinch. 



The Vefcription and CharaBer. 



DULLFINCHES zre fo called from 

 ^ their Heads, which are Black, and for 

 the Proportion of their Bodies large : In Ibme 

 Places in England^ they are called Nofes^ in 

 others, Thick-biUs^ and in fome Hoopi : This 

 laft Name they have, probably, from their 

 wild hooping fort of a Note. They are very 

 docile Birds, the Hen Learning after the Pipe 

 or Whiftle, as well as the Cock, having no 

 Song of their own, but what is taught them, 

 in which they excel moft Birds • and the 

 peculiar Rarity of thefe Birds is, that they 

 never forget what they have once learnt, the' 

 they hang among ever fo many Birds : Some 

 have been taught to fpeak feveral Words at 

 Command : 'Tis a Bird much efteemed in 

 England^ both for Beauty and Singing; and 

 deftrvedly in my Judgment ; for, in the for- 

 mer, he equals, and in the latter, when well 

 taught, excells ail fmall Birds ; they have 

 b^en frequently fold from five to ten Guineas 

 a Bird, 



Thefe Birds deh'ght to Feed upon the Buds 

 of Fruit Trees, fuch as the Apple, Pear, 

 Peach, and other Garden Trees ; of which, 



tbey 



