BULLFINCH. 



The female differs considerably from the male, 

 except in the crown of the head, which is black : 

 the whole bird besides is of a dirty brown, the 

 rump being white. 



The Bullfinch breeds late. The nest, which is 

 not of very elaborate construction, is not begun 

 till the end of April or the beginning of June. 

 The male bird (says Mr. Mudie) sings at that 

 time ; but his song, though mournfully soft, is so 

 low that it is not heard but in the close vicinity ; 

 and the bird is so apt to drop into the bush and be 

 silent on the least alarm, that to scramble through 

 the trees in order to hear the native note of the 

 Bullfinch, is almost the surest way of being disap- 

 pointed. 



The female generally builds in an orchard, wood, 

 or park, preferring the thickest places for that 

 purpose, where there are plenty of trees ; or on 

 heaths. The nest is often found on the flat branch 

 of a spruce pine, or silver fir, about four feet from 

 the ground. It is formed of small tender twigs, 

 and flexible fibrous roots, intertwined into a sort of 

 basket-work, rather loose, and only sufficient to 

 hold the eggs and young, and prevent them 

 from rolling out. The inside is wholly lined with 

 fine roots, without any hair or feathers.* The 

 eggs are four or five in number, of a bluish colour, 

 with dark brown and faint reddish spots. 



The Bullfinch (observes the author of the 

 Journal of a Naturalist) has no claims to our re- 

 gard. It is gifted with no voice to charm us (in its 



* Architecture of Birds. 



E 2 



