FRINGILLINA. 195 
THE BULLFINCH. 
PYRRHULA EUROPA, Vieillot. 
During the greater portion of the year the Bullfinch is a 
frequenter of wooded districts, in which, unless the white rump and 
—in the male—the bright colour of the breast should catch the 
eye, the bird may often escape notice, and thus be considered rarer 
than is really the case. In spring, however, it frequently attracts 
the attention of the gardener by its visits to his fruit-trees, and 
although the damage done to the young buds may sometimes be 
over-estimated, it cannot be denied that there is apparent ground 
for complaint. Throughout suitable localities in England and 
Wales the Bullfinch is generally distributed, especially on dry, 
sandy soils ; and, although rather more local in Scotland, it has’ of 
late years spread to some of the Hebrides—especially to the south- 
eastern part of Skye, but to the Orkneys and Shetlands it is a rare 
visitor. In Ireland it is common, except in treeless districts, and in 
the south is increasing. 
In Northern and Eastern Europe and in Siberia, migrating south- 
ward in winter, is found a large and brilliant race, which has been 
separated by Brehm as P. major, and this has been freely imported 
and has been taken in Yorkshire; but our smaller bird inhabits 
