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COMMON BULLFINCH. 
based with slender twigs, and lined with fine 
roots or grasses. The eggs are of a pale and 
delicate greenish blue, marked with reddish or 
purplish spots. 
The geographical range of the Bullfinch is not 
very extensive, neither does it seem more common 
in other districts than in Britain. In our own 
country, it scarcely reaches the north of Scotland, 
and is, we believe, unknown in the northern 
islands. On the Continent it reaches to a lower 
proportional latitude, but decreases in numbers, 
and it has been long since known as a Japanese 
bird. 
The Bullfinch is esteemed in confinement on 
account of its imitative powers, and numbers are 
annually imported on this account from Germany, 
under the title of “ Piping Bullfinches.” These 
have lost almost entirely their natural limited song, 
excepting their call-note, but have been taught 
to whistle an air or favourite melody, which the 
best do with great truth and distinctness, and 
with a deep and full tone. The price of some of 
these birds is extravagant. 
The Bullfinch, in form, is a compact and stout 
bird, and the adult male shews a beautiful assem- 
blage of colours. The crown of the head and 
nape, the throat, wings, and tail, are rich velvety 
black, with a steel blue and purplish gloss. The 
back and shoulders delicate bluish gray, and the 
rump, vent, and under tail coverts, pure white. 
The cheeks, throat, and under parts, delicate tile 
red, shading gradually into the other colours. In 
