In a state of nature the Bullfinch feeds on and fir Beetle, corn, linseed, millet, rape, and nettle seed, all ports of berries, and the buds of most trees, among which those of the oak, beech, pear, plum, cherry, and gooseberry are favourites. Bewick says that in the spring it frequents gardens, where it is usefully busy in destroying the worms which are lodged in the buds. Busy it is; but we are compelled to add that its utility, to the horticulturist at least, is no longer ques tionable. In its devastation it may now and then, and no doubt does find a worm in a bud; but its object is the bud, not the worm. " They feed most willingly upon those buds of trees which break forth before, indeed are pregnant with, the leaves and flowers, especially those of the apple-tree, pear-tree, peach-tree, and other garden trees ; and by that means bring no small detriment to the gardeners, who therefore hate and destroy them as a great pest of their gardens, intercepting their hopes of fruit." Such is Willughby's verdict. " I have known," says Selby, " a pair of these birds to strip a considerable,, sized plum-tree of every bud in the space of two days. These buds are not swallowed whole, but first minutely divided by the tomia of the powerful bill." " Its delight," observes Mr. Knapp in his inter esting and lively `Journal of a Naturalist,' "is in the embryo blossoms wrapped up at this season (spring) in the bud of a tree ; and it is very dainty and curious in its choice of this food, seldom feeding upon two kinds at the same time. It generally commences with the germs of our larger and most early gooseberry; and the bright red breasts of four or five cock birds, quietly feeding on the leafless bush, are a very pretty sight ; but the consequences are ruinous to the crop. When the cherry buds bin to come forward, they quit the gooseberry, and make tremeudous havoc with these. I have an early wall cherry, a may duke by reputation, that has for years been a great favourite with the bullfinch family, and its celebrity seems to be communicated to each successive generation. It buds profusely, but is annually so stripped of its promise by these feathered rogues, that its kind might almost be doubted. The Orleans and green-gage plums next form a treat, and draw their attention from what remains of the cherry. Having banqueted here a while, they leave our gardens entirely, resorting to the fields and hedges, where the sloe-bush in April furnishes them with food." Bewiek says it builds its nest in bushes, and that it is composed chiefly of moss,—Bechstein, in the most retired part of a wood, or Ka solitary quickset hedge, adding that it is constructed, with little skill, of twigs, which are covered with moss. Graves says that it is mostly found in the thickest part of a black- or white-thorn bush, and that it is composed of small twigs and moss, and is lined with soft dry fibres. Yarrell says the nest is formed of small twigs, and lined with fibrous roots, the materials not very compactly entwined together, and usually placed four or five feet above the ground on the branch of a fir-tree, or in a thick bush. The eggs are generally four or five ; Temminek says from three to six, but in this country the number is usually four, of a bluish white, speckled and streaked with purplish or pale orange-brown at the large end, and rather obtuse. The young are generally hatched in May or the beginning of June, and there are frequently two broods in a year. The time of incubation is fifteen days.
The species is widely spread. They are common in most parts of Northern Europe, extending into Russia and Siberia : iu the south of Europe they occur only as birds of passage. They are said to winter in Italy. Cleaner says that about the Alps the bird is called Franguol Invernengk—that is, ` Winter Finch.' Bonaparte notes it as "rare
d' inveruo avventizio" near Rome. Thunberg long ago said that the common Bullfinch was found in Japan, and this is corroborated by Dr. de Siebold, for it was one of the European species which he found in that country. The bird is particularly common in the mountainous forests of Germany : and it is from Cologne and other spots, " Where Rhenua strays his vines among," that the market for Piping-Bullfinehes is principally supplied. Bech stein mentions that there are schools for these little musicians in Hesse and Fulda, and at 1Vslterahausen near Gotha. With us the bullfinch is a constant resident.
P. Synoica, the Asiatic Bullfinch. The adult male is ornamented round the base of the bill with a circle of rich red, going off' in spots upon the cheeks. The front is covered with small lustrous white feathers, of a silvery white, lightly shaded upon the border! with red ; all the lower parts of the body-, the inferior coverts of the tail, and the rump, are of a brilliant rose-colour, or clear carmine ; the upper parts are aah-coloured, lightly tinged with rose : wings and tail brown, with ash-coloured borders.
The female is brown, of a light brown or earth-colour above, with longitudinal lines of deeper brown upon each feather. The lower parte are of a very clear brown or Isabella-colour, with longitudinal ',trim of a somewhat deeper brown upon the middle of the feathers. The tail is slightly notched at the end, and the bill and feet in both sexes are of a clear brown. Length about 5 inches and 5-8ths. M.
Asiatics Bullfinch (Pyrrhula Synuica). Upper figure, male ; lower figure, female.
it possible that the ` social bullfinch' may be found some day in the islands of the Grecian Archipelago, and that it may easily is in its migrations the arm of the sea between Asia and those isles.
Temminck received his specimen from Professor Lichtenstein; and it was one of the discoveries of the travellers sent some years ago by the King of Prussia into Egypt with a view of obtaining objects of natural history.
A species from the Himalaya Mountains, Pyrrhttla erythrocephala, figured in Mr. Gould's beautiful work, comes near to the common Bullfinch of Europe except in the form of the tail, which is decidedly forked, while in the European it is nearly even. There is a specimen of Pyrrhula erythroeephala in the British Museum, and another in that of the Zoological Society.
P. Gigathinea. This species is characterised by a very thick bill, and a slightly notched tail. The colours of the sexes do not vary greatly. In the male a grayish colour tinted with bright-rose covers all the lower parts of the body, the throat, and the circle round the bill; this tint is palest on the throat. The crown of the head is pure ash colour, and an ashy brown is spread over the nape, the back, and the wing-coverts. A faint rose-colour tinges the plumage of the rump and the edges of the quills and tail-feathers, all of which are bordered towards the end with whitish upon a black ground. The two middle quills are the shortest. The wings reach to the extremity of the tail-feathers ; the bill is of a fine red. Length 4 inches 6 lines.
The female has no rosy tint except on the edges of the quills and tail-feathers, and on the rump, where it is very faint. The upper parts are of an Isabella-brown, and the wings edged with a brighter tint of the same. The circle round the bill and the throat are ash coloured ; the lower parts of a pure Isabella-colour; and the middle of the belly white. Bill same as in the male.
This bird is figured in the great French work on Egypt (plate 5, fig. 8), and was sent home some years ago by the German travellers to the north of Africa. It inhabits Egypt and Nubia. There are specimens in the Berlin museum, and in those of the Netherlands and of Frankfort.