GRosBEAK. PASSERES. PYRRHULA. 959 
rally seen in pairs, or in families of five or six individuals, the 
brood of the year, which continue together during the au- 
tumn and winter, till the return of spring induces them to 
pair, and continue their species—The food of the bullfinch Food. 
during summer and autumn consists of seeds ; but in the win- 
ter and spring, it chiefly supports itself on the buds of various 
trees and shrubs, particularly on those of the white thorn, all 
the varieties of the plum, the larch and birch. On this ac- 
count it is particularly injurious to gardens, and is often the 
depredator, when the comparatively innocent Blue-cap (Tit- 
mouse) suffers for the crime. I have known a pair of these 
birds to strip a considerable-sized plumtree of every bud in the 
space of two days. ‘These buds are not swallowed whole, but 
first minutely divided by the tomia of their powerful bill_— 
The bullfinch forms a loose, shallow nest of small sticks, lined Nest, &c. 
with a few fibres of root, in a low tree, or in the thickest under- 
wood, and lays four or five bluish-white eggs, spotted with pale 
orange-brown. Its usual note-call is a plaintive whistle, and, 
when feeding, it utters a low short twitter.—Its song is very soft Song. 
and pleasing, but delivered in such an under-tone, as to be in- 
audible at a short distance; and from hence few common ob- 
servers are aware that it possesses a native song. Under con- 
finement it may be taught to whistle a variety of tunes, and 
great numbers thus educated are annually imported from 
Germany.— When caged, it sometimes becomes wholly black, Varieties. 
an effect attributed to its being fed too profusely with hemp 
seed. In its wild state, varieties more or less white are fre- 
quently met with. Captain Mirrorp (to whom I have be- 
fore alluded in this work) killed one, of which both the wings 
were white. 
It is a native of the northern parts of Europe, and is only 
known in the more southerly provinces as a bird of passage. 
Prate 54. Fig. 1. Male bird, natural size. 
Bill brownish-black. Crown of the head, base of the bill, General 
throat, wings, and tail, velvet-black, tinged with violet- Pe 
purple. Nape of the neck and back fine bluish-grey ; Male. 
R2 
