The Bullfinch. 



117 



parts of rape, one part inga, one canary, and one linseed. 

 They thrive well on this mixture. 



DisTiNGuiSHiNa Marks of Cock and Hen. — The breast, 

 cheeks, neck, belly, and sides of the hen are pale chestnut 

 brown ; the back slaty blue, intermixed with brown and grey , 

 the tail and wing feathers are paler and more dingy in ap- 

 pearance than those of the male bird. Her general demeanour 

 is more reserved, and she is much quieter, and less active 

 in manner and bearing. The head of the male bird is 

 flatter on the crown than that of the female. There is, 

 however, considerable difference, even in male birds, as 

 young birds do not attain their full colour until the second 

 moult, and improve in this respect up to four years old. 

 As they get older the vent and rump become whiter. In 

 young birds, the secondary pen feathers are grey on the 

 outer shafts, but in older birds they are white, forming 

 a bar across the wings. In rare specimens the outer 

 shafts are of a reddish hue, but this is altogether excep- 

 tional. 



If an adult male and female be seen together the sexes 

 can easily be distinguished, as the male is much more 

 resplendent in the colours of his plumage. Young nest- 

 lings differ materially from their parents in plumage, as 

 they are of a dingy, dusky ash colour, with dark brown 

 wings and tails, and yellowish brown breasts. The male birds 

 have a slightly reddish tinge on their breasts, as compared 

 with those of the hens, and are a little deeper in the 

 general tone of their plumage throughout. They are likewise 

 more pert, bolder in appearance, and more graceful in manner 

 than the hens. The sexes, however, are not so easy to deter- 

 mine, but a simple method of settling the question is to pluck 

 a few feathers from the breast of the birds when they are 

 three or four weeks old. In twelve or fourteen days from 

 the time of plucking, new feathers will be sufficiently grown 

 to settle the point, as those in the male birds will appear 

 a reddish salmon colour, whilst in the hens the colour will 

 be pale brown. 



Song. — -The natural song of the Bullfinch is a peculiar and 

 miserable ditty, if, indeed, it can be called a song ; the notes 

 are harsh and unpleasant, and repugnant to anyone who 

 possesses an ear for music. Bullfinches are, however, capable of 



