CLASS II. AYES: 
ORDEE 2. 
PASSERES. 
171 
form of the heads and bills ; they occur in both hemispheres, principally iti temperate countries, and 
feed upon seeds, the hardest shells of which are seldom able to resist the force of their firm, strong bills. 
Genus PYRRHULA : Pyrrliula. — The Common Bull-Finch of Europe — Bouvreuil of the 
French; Ghnpel of the Germans — P. Vulgaris is seven inches long; the top of the head 
and the under part of the chin a velvety black ; the throat, back, and shoulders gray ; the 
rump white ; the breast crimson ; the lower parts white. There are vjMte, blacky and speckled 
varieties; hybrids with canaries are often produced. It is a robust and clumsy-looking bird; 
conceals its nest in furze or hedges ; lays from two to six bluish-white eggs; feeds on seeds of 
ash, maple, beech, and furze; also on the seeds of weeds and grasses, and on the buds of trees, 
thus often doing great damage. On account of this habit it is called PicJc-a-hud in England, 
where it is also called Coal-hood, Red-hoop, Tony-hoop, Alp, Pope, JS^'ojje, &c. In confinement it 
is a docile bird, and though its natural note is harsh as the creaking of a door or wheelbarrow, it 
may be trained to whistle many airs in a soft, pure, and flute-like tone. It is very common in 
England, and we see it often referred to in English books • it is found throughout Europe at all 
seasons. 
THE PINE-GROSBEAK. 
^PThe Pine Bull-Finch or Pine Grosbeak — the Bouvreuil Duc-hec of the French ; P. enu- 
I cleator of Yarrell ; the Cory thus enucleator of Audubon and De Kay — is eight and a half inches 
long ; general colors bright carmine, with a vermilion tinge ; that of the female yellowish-brown 
above ; beneath ash-gray. It is found in the northern parts of both continents. It resembles 
the bull-finches in its form, and the cross-bills in some of its habits. It feeds on the seeds and 
buds of various kinds of trees ; builds a nest of sticks on the branch of a tree, lining it with 
feathers; the eggs are four or five. It breeds in this country from Maine northward; in severe 
seasons it comes southward in small flocks, sometimes abundantly as far as Massachusetts, and 
more rarely as far as Pennsylvania. The appearance of a flock of these birds, the males wnth 
their splendid red attire, and the females with their more sober but still beautiful plumage, is 
quite striking. They are excellent food. The male has a pleasing song, and in confinement will 
often sing at night. 
Genus LOXIA : Loxia. — To this belong the Common European Cross-Bill — Bee croisS of 
the French — L. curvirostra, which has a strong bill, the mandibles of which are crescent-shaped, 
and cross each other at the points. It inhabits the northern regions of Europe, and lives princi- 
pally in the forests of fir ; it feeds on pine-cones, and also on the seeds and nuts of other trees, 
its bill enabling it to break the shells of these with facility. It is nearly seven inches long, 
and is subject to great changes of color, the males of a year old being red, and those that are oldCT 
of greenish-yellow, spotted with white, and having a grayish tinge over the whole plum-^ge. Thes« 
birds move southward in winter, and are periodically seen in considerable flocks in Eno-land. 
YoL. II.— 23 
