B U J L I d F I J ^ C E L » -
P y r r l tu la v u lg a r i s ¡ fT em m .)
Qenus PYlt R M ULA.
sr. Chau. 15*7/ very, short, and thick at th e base; both
u p p er one, the point of which overhangs the point
pressed and advancing upon the forehead. Nostrils
short feathers. Wings rather short, the fourth miill-fe?
rathe
era!, round,
Bigi!!
R Ü I . / L F I N C I I .
Py rrh u la vulgaris, Temm,
f>' Bcuvreuil commun.
Tins handsome IMitlii c.s ifec
. been hitherto discovered h
some other part# <d: «he -.Cum
merely, and rnw ! f ; i ¡; $ ifes
difference « or
should noi ha vi* -htwi
an opportunity i?f -
ily one o f the geuus P p r/tu la , as restricted by modern naturalists, which has
rope, that is to say, provided we consider the Bullfinch found in Germany and
wit (which in relative admeasurements is nearly a fourth longer,) as a variety
species. In our examination of this ¡bird, had, we been able to detect any
i. ascertain that any dissimilarity existed in their habits and • manners wfe
Sviictl on the subject; at present we remain in doubt on this point, which those
xwnmd’iig the bird more closely than ourselves, and in a state of nature, <
o havi
alow
Tlie interewtettg .fotte group of which-the present sp ecie forms a typical example, appears lb he confined
exclusively to the regipns o f the Old World, more particularly its northern and mountain districts! I i i
elevated range of the Himalaya has not onlv produced an additional example, published by us in our work on
th e birds o f that range under the specific title of uykrocephalu, but we have since receive^ another
species from the same locality, and which h at present undescrihed: we allude to this fact here, as confirmatory
o f the justice o f separating birds possessing well-defined forms, however limited their numbers may be,
into distinct genera, assured that future researches »iH increase the catalogue o f species.
The Bullfinch is a constant resident in our island, although we are informed by continental writers that it
is strictly migratory on the Continent generally, over the whole o f which, except in Holland, whe. e it is some-
what rare, it is pkmtifidly dispersed. The habits of the Bullfinch are somewhat shy and retiring, giving preference
tosechwM i&foliefo and coppices.
Its food consists for the most part of berries, seeds, and the buds of trees; hence in the spring no bird is
accused o f gmsfor in orchards »ml gardens.
The nest o f the Bdjhforjh ¡w rather loosely constructed, flat in ks general fonn, an^ comjRO^ed of Saiail
sticks lined with fibrous roots, and woo!; it is mostly played iih .the forked branches of trees and .shrubs. Tifo
eggs.are four or five in «timber, o f a bluish white spirfiadl with reddbjt brown. AUlfough n<rt cnimdy devoid
ofsOng, it is by no means rcniarlcable in its wdd rtrtv for its musical power*: f e sd i note is-g plaintive
monotonous whistle. In Captivity it is much valued, not only for it« beauty, but for its jftmers of imitation,
being capable of learning and repeating tunes and even words.
The sexes offer, as the Plate wUl show, a considerable difference in their colouring.
The male ha» the top o f the. head, the circle round the eye, the throat, wings, and tad o f a deep glossy
black; the back o f the neck and mantle ash-colour; the.cheeks, neck, chest, and flanks line red ; rump and
abdomen pure white; a band of greyish white crosses the wing; the beak arid irides black; tarsi blackish
In the female, the red of the cbe , npek, and Hanks.is exchanged for dusky greyish brown; the
le rump is less conspicuous, and the markings of the head arc not so pure and decided.
Tlife Plate represente ) and fomafe o f tlie natural size.