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Genus PYRRHULA. 



Pyrrhula, Brisson, Orn. iii. p. 308 (1760). 

 Loxia apud Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. i. p. 300 (1766). 

 Fringilla apud Meyer, Vog. Livl. p. 81 (1815). 



The Bullfinches form, as it were, a connecting-link between Carpodacus and Loxia, through 

 Pinicola; and I have therefore thought them best placed between the first and last of these 

 genera. The genus Pyrrhula is represented in the Paleearctic, northern portions of the Oriental 

 and Ethiopian Regions, as also in the extreme north-western portion of the Nearctic Region. 

 Three species are resident in the Western Paleearctic Region. 



The Bullfinches inhabit wooded and cultivated districts, especially large orchards, greenwood 

 groves where there is plenty of underwood and the trees do not stand too close, bush-covered 

 districts, &c. They are active, sprightly birds, shy and retiring in their habits, seldom consorting 

 with other allied species. They have a soft plaintive whistle, and a sweet and plaintive song. 

 Their flight is quick and undulating ; and their food consists chiefly of buds and seeds, and only 

 to a small extent of insects. They construct a neatly and artistically formed cup-shaped nest of 

 twigs lined with fine roots, and deposit several greenish blue eggs spotted and blotched with 

 purplish grey and dark brown. 



Pyrrhula europcea, the type of the genus, has the bill very short, strong, bulging at the 

 sides, as high as broad at the base, the upper mandible considerably longer than and overhanging 

 the lower one ; nostrils basal, nearly hidden by recurved stiff feathers ; wings moderately long, 

 the first quill finely attenuated and scarcely discernible, the fourth longest ; tail rather long, 

 slightly forked; tarsus and toes short, the former covered in front with four large and three 

 inferior scutellee ; claws somewhat long, arched, laterally grooved, acute ; plumage soft and 

 blended. 



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