274 
FRINGILLIDtE. 
been obtained in England, are towards the south-east. Near Edinburgh 
and Bathgate, — where single individuals were obtained, — are the only 
Scottish localities mentioned by Sir Wm. Jardine and Mr. Macgillivray. 
THE BULLFINCH. 
Fyrrlmla vulgaris , Temm. 
Loxia pyrrhula , Linn. 
Is one of those birds met with in the four quarters of the 
island, and probably in every county ; but at the 
same time is rather scarce. 
Mr. Selby remarks, that it is “ common in all the wooded districts 
of these islands.” This will not however apply to Ireland. In many 
of the artificially wooded districts, the bullfinch is either not to be 
found at all, or only known as an occasional visitant; but where an 
extent of natural wood remains, and there is sufficient growth of the 
more shrubby trees, it may be looked for, but cannot be reckoned 
on with certainty. In some picturesque and extensive glens in 
the county of Antrim, near Belfast, this bird was common so long 
as the hazel and holly of natural growth maintained their ground, 
but as these were swept away, the bullfinch deserted such locali- 
ties, as abodes, and “ few and far between ” are now even 
its temporary visits. In the neighbouring county of Down, it 
finds a home in sequestered situations where the hazel predomi- 
nates — as at Tollymore Park, the Wood House, near Bosstrevor, 
&c., — and in this shrubby tree, commonly builds. In " na- 
ture's wild domain,” the bullfinch looks eminently beautiful, and 
can be admired without the alloy associated with its appearance 
in the garden or the orchard, where it proves so destructive by 
eating the buds of the fruit trees.* Its call-note and song have 
generally met with little admiration from the historians of the 
species, but being sweetly plaintive, they are to me extremely 
pleasing. These birds came in small numbers t in two successive 
winters of late years to an unusual locality ; — a little garden apart 
* It has been remarked, both in the north and south of the island, to be very par- 
tial to feeding on the buds of the sloe or black-thorn ( Prunus spinosa). 
f I have rarely heard of more than from 20 to 30 birds being seen in a flock 
during winter. 
