BIRDS. 
211 
THE BULLFINCH. (Loxia jnjrrhula.) 
THIS is a very docile bird, and will nearly imitate the 
sound of a pipe, or the whistle of man, with its voice, 
the mellowness of which is really charming. It is, by 
bird-fanciers, supposed to excel all other small birds, ex- 
cept the linnet, in the softness of its tones and in the variety 
of its notes. In captivity, its melody seems to be as great 
a solace to itself, as it is a pleasure to its master. By day, 
and even when the evening has called for the artificial light 
of candles, the Bullfinch pursues his melodious exertions, 
and if there be any other birds in the apartment, he awakes 
them gently to the pleasing task of singing in concert with 
him. His notes are upon one of the lowest keys of the 
gamut of birds. Thomson says: 
The mellow Bullfinch answers from the grove. 
The plumage of the Bullfinch is beautiful, though sim- 
ple and uniform, consisting only of three or four shades of 
colours. In the male, a lovely scarlet or crimson colour 
adorns the breast, throat, and jaws, as far as the eyes ; 
the crown of the head is black ; the rump and tail are 
white : the neck and back grey, or lead-coloured. The 
name of this bird originates from its head and neck being, 
like those of the bull, very large in proportion to the 
