154 FRINGILLID.E. 



As a winter migrant, the Pine Bulfinch is irregular in its 

 appearance ; but probably, if carefully traced, its seemingly 

 erratic movements would be found to coincide pretty accu- 

 rately with the greater or less degree of cold for which par- 

 ticular seasons have been remarkable. From continental 

 authors we learn that in 1790 these birds appeared in such 

 numbers near Riga in October, and remained until the middle 

 of December, that several thousand pairs were daily caught. 

 In 1798 and 1798, and again in 1803, they also appeared in 

 great numbers ; but from that time not many were observed 

 until 1820, when they spread over almost every middle pro- 

 vince of Germany. 



In the forest districts of Scotland these birds are occasion- 

 ally seen, and a few individuals have been shot from time to 

 time in England. In France they are considered very rare, 

 but have occasionally been met with in some parts of Swit- 

 zerland, and in the north of Italy. 



The Pine Bulfinch is a bird of sociable habits, usually 

 found in flocks or families, and mostly preferring the society 

 of its own species. They inhabit forests of fir, or tracts of 

 brushwood, in which shrubs that produce berries in abun- 

 dance, such as the juniper and others, are to be found. They 

 fly high when engaged in lengthened flights, or during migra- 

 tion, and at such times alight on the tops only of lofty 

 trees. 



In consequence of their being reared in remote and unin- 

 habited wilds, the Pine Bulfinch betrays little fear of man- 

 kind, and consequently falls an easy prey to their wiles. 

 When fired at, they appear unconscious of the danger that 

 threatens them, and will suffer one after another of their 

 party to fall a sacrifice without betraying any alarm ; so that 

 six or eight have been known to be shot out of one tree 

 before the rest took flight ; it is consequently very easy to 

 entrap them by means of snares and other devices. 



