THE PINE GROSBEAK. 53 
while, to my mind, few even of these sifted records are entitled to acceptance.” 
It seems to me that even if the species has been shot here, the probability is 
that (in every case) the examples have either escaped or been freed from confine- 
ment; inasmuch as it is not only imported from time to time as a cage-bird, but 
in my short experience (commencing in July, 1896) * the birds, though wonderfully 
tame and intelligent, are too powerful and destructive to be trusted with weaker 
companions, and eat so voraciously that their food makes a distinct difference in 
one’s expenses: they are like most insect-eating finches, very fond of earthworms 
and green food; but the quantity of sunflower-seed and hemp which they devour 
in a day is astonishing, whilst their chief amusement in my aviary consists in 
tearing ivy to pieces. A man in a hurry to part with such birds would be very 
likely to turn them loose. 
Family—FRINGILLIDE. Subfamily—FRINGILLIN-A. 
THE BULLFINCH. 
Pyrrhula curopwa. VYEILL. 
R. SHARPE gives the distribution of this species as follows :—‘‘ Western, 
Central, and Southern Europe. The eastern range is undefined, but it 
apparently ranges as far as Central Russia.” The larger race known to aviculturists 
as “Russian Bullfinch” is regarded by the Doctor as a distinct species, which he 
calls “ Pyrrhula pyrrhula.” JY must say I do not approve of this adoption of the 
generic name for the species, and should prefer to follow Brehm in calling it 
Pyrrhula major; it occurs in Northern and Eastern Europe, and in Siberia. 
The Bullfinch, or Bloodolf, as it is called in Norfolk, is pretty generally dis- 
tributed in all well-wooded districts throughout the British Isles. 
* My friend Mr. James H. Tleming, of Ontario, very kindly sent me half a dozen specimens, all of which 
reached ime in good health. 
VoL. 11. K 
