The crimson and black bands on his head, the glorious blaze 
of gold on his black wings, which are further marked with 
white spots, as also is his tail, make him the most gorgeous 
of our native finches. The bullfinch, again, is easy to dis- 
tinguish ; though from his habit of haunting thickets and 
dense hedgerows, he is seldom seen. In flight you may know 
him by his white rump, rosy breast, and black head. But his 
mate is more soberly clad: though her black head and white 
rump will suffice to make sure of her when, by good fortune, 
she is encountered. 
One of the commonest of what we may call “ roadside ”’ 
birds is the yellow-hammer ; which can be recognized at 
once by the bright yellow colour of its head. As soon as it 
takes to flight the white feathers in the tail and the chestnut 
rump will make assurance doubly sure. But in some parts 
of England one meets with another, and similar species—the 
cirl bunting. In this species, however, the male has a black 
throat and ear-coverts, and an olive-grey chest-band ; while 
the female, lacking these distinctive marks, may be recognized 
by a brown, instead of a chestnut rump. When in the neigh- 
bourhood of swampy places and reed-beds, a look-out must 
be kept for the reed-bunting. A small bird with a black 
head and throat, and white collar, this is the male. The 
female will display a brown head, buff throat and eye-brow, 
and white outer tail-feathers. In the winter time, near the 
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