COMMON BULLFINCH. 91 
Sus-raminy LOXIINA. 
COMMON BULLFINCH. 
PyrRHuLA EvRopmA, Vieill. 
Pl. XIV., figs. 10-15. 
Geogr. distr.—Resident in Central and Western Europe; its range 
extending as far north as the British Isles; generally distributed and 
resident in wooded districts throughout England, and probably (though 
less commonly) in Ireland ; in Scotland from Invernesshire to the south 
of Wigtownshire. 
és pe young, insects; when adult, seeds, buds, berries, and 
uit. 
Nest.—Shallow and saucer-shaped, loosely but firmly constructed, 
externally of thin, dry, interwoven twigs of birch, fir, &.; lined with 
fine roots, bents, hairs, and rarely a few leaves. 
Position of nest.—Generally in a low bush or tree in a wood, grove, 
garden, or thick hedgerow. 
Number of eggs.—4-5. 
Time of nidification.—IV-VII; early in May. 
Formerly I used to take the nest of this bird pretty 
commonly in Kent, but of late years the industry of bird- 
catchers has greatly reduced their numbers. The nest is 
at first sight not unlike that of a Wood Pigeon, though, of 
course, much more diminutive; but there is a greater 
distinction between the external framework and the lining, 
the latter being comparatively finer. 
Speaking of the notes of this bird, Mr. Seebohm says, 
“The call-note of the Bullfinch to his mate is a full, rich, 
but low, piping whistle, very monotonous and plaintive, and 
sounds like dyw dyw; and his song, which is usually uttered 
in so low a tone as to be scarcely audible at a distance, as 
if he were fearful of being discovered in the act, is very 
pleasing and mellow. Usually it is warbled as he sits 
bolt upright, and every now and then jerks his wings and 
tail and turns his head from side to side, as if about to 
take wing.” —(Hist. Brit. Birds, vol. 11., pp. 52, 53.) 
The variety which I have represented at fig. 15 I have 
only once had the pleasure of taking; the nest was dis- 
covered and pointed out to me by a lady friend (Mrs. 
Homewood) in a bush in a wood at Stockbury, Kent ; it 
contained two eggs which I still have, but my friend wished 
to keep the nest. The similarity of these eggs to those of 
the Greenfinch is somewhat remarkable. 
