PYRRHULA. BULLFINCH.
Bill short, bard, conico-convex, thick, gibbous at the sides, compressed at the tip and towards the ridge; the up per mandible always bent, the under more or less so ; nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and most frequently con cealed by feathers in front ; the tarsus shorter than the middle toe, the anterior toes divided to their origin ; wings short, the fourth quill the shortest ; tail rather long, and either slightly rounded or square.
Most of the species belonging to this genus reside in the cold and temperate climates of the globe, subsist on hard grains and seeds, and undergo a double moult ing.
P. enucleaior, Temm. Loxia enucleator, Lin. &c. Corythus enuclealor, Guy Strobilifuga enucicaior, Vieil. Pine Hard-beak, Pine Gross-beak, or Greatest Bullfinch. Dull roseate, varied with brown and grey, with a double white line on the wings, and the tail feathers entirely black. The length of the greatest bullfinch is upwards of seven inches, and its weight rather more than two ounces. Inhabits the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and Ameri ca, but sometimes visits the more temperate latitudes during winter. It particularly affects the pine-forests of the north ; and, in this island, it occurs only in the north of Scotland, where it is also supposed to breed. It is like wise found in the pine-forests of Siberia, Lapland, and the northern parts of Russia. In autumn, it is very common about St. Petersburgh, where it is caught for the use of the table. In Hudson's Bay it feeds not only on pine cones, but on the buds of the willow. There, in May, it makes its nest of sticks and feathers, at a little distance Itom the ground, laying four white eggs, which are hatch ed in June. The young brood for some time remain of a dull blue. In spring the male sings sweetly, and during the night, but it ceases to be musical early in summer.
P. vulgaris, Cuv. Tern. Loxia Pyrrhula, Lin. &c. Bullfinch, or Bullfinch Gross-beak, Prov. Alp, Nope, Pope, Monk, Thick-bill, Red-Hoop, Tony-Hoop, Coaly hood, &c. Cinereous ; head black, wing-coverts, and hind-part of the quills, white. The cheeks, breast, and belly, are crimson, and the tail is black. The female is of a dirty brown, with the exception of the crown of the head, which is black, and of the rump, which is white. The young birds, when first hatched, very much resemble the female, except that they have no black on the head, which, with the crimson on the breast of the male, appears about two months after they leave the nest. The bullfinch some times changes its plumage, and becomes quite black (lur ing confinement, especially when fed with hemp-seed. In the Leverian Museum there was an entirely white va riety; and one nearly so was shot in Nov. 1801, by Mr. Spearnian of 'Wharton. Nestlings perfectly white have been known to assume their ordinary hues when full grown. The usual length of this bird is scarcely six inches; but there is a race, or variety, somewhat larger, and much prized by the bird-fanciers. The species inha
bits Europe and Siberia. In summer it affects woods, es pecially such as are situated in hilly districts ; but in win ter it approaches nearer to cultivated places, and feeds on seeds, winter berries, &c.; in the spring it frequents or chards and gardens, where it hunts the worms and insects that are lodged in the tender buds of the trees. On per ceiving a bird of prey, or other object of alarm, it plunges into the thickest bush within reach, and remains perfectly silent and tranquil till the cause of its apprehension has disappeared. Bullfinches are not gregarious, but may be generally seen in pairs or broods. They remain with us the year. The nest is composed of small dry twigs, lined with fibrous roots, or hair, and placed in some thick bush, particularly in the hawthorn, either in woods or hedges. .The female, aided by the male, begins build ing it about the latter end of April, or the beginning of May, and has, for the most part, two hatches in the year, each consisting of from three to six bluish-white blunt eggs, marked at the larger end with a band of brown and purple spots. When the female is seated on them, the male fetches her food, and shows her every mark of tender attachment. The native notes of the bullfinch are few, simple, and not very audible, but remarkable for softness ; and in confinement, especially if caught young, it may be taught a considerable variety of tunes. " I know a cu rious person," says the author of Adonologie, " who, hav ing whistled some airs quite plain to a bullfinch, was agreeably surprised to hear the bird add such graceful turns, that the master could scarcely recognise his own music, and acknowledged that the scholar excelled him." It must, however, be admitted, that if the bird be ill di rected, it acquires harsh strains with the same facility. Thus Buffon mentions the case of one which had never heard any person but carters whistle ; and it whistled like them, and with all their strength and coarseness. It like wise learns to articulate words and sentences, and utters them with such delicacy of accent, that we might almost suppose it felt their emphasis. These birds are, besides, susceptible of attachment both strong and durable ; for some of them, after having effected their escape, and pass ed a whole year in the woods, have been known to recog nise the voice of their former mistress, and to return, to forsake her no more; and others have pined, and even died of melancholy, on being removed from the ob ject of their first affection. From their docility they may be trained to many amusing tricks, as to alight en their master's shoulder at a call, &c. There are even instances of two of them having been taught to sing in parts ; and, according to Lewin, the females may be taught to pipe musical notes. The male will occasionally couple with the hen canary, and be very attentive to her during incu bation; but he occasionally kills the young by piercing their skull with his bill.