. The sportsman's British bird book . tfrom the Scandinavian) bird as pileata on account of itssmaller size and darker colour. The bullfinch, especially in cap-tivity, displays a marked tendency tomelanism, several wholly black wildspecimens having been recorded. The inveterate propensity to pick out the buds of gooseberry andcurrant bushes in winter or spring (no matter whether they are soundor infested with grubs) is deservedly detested by gardeners, who wouldwillingly forego such enjoyment as can be derived from the song ofthe cock if the species were exterminated. Twigs external
. The sportsman's British bird book . tfrom the Scandinavian) bird as pileata on account of itssmaller size and darker colour. The bullfinch, especially in cap-tivity, displays a marked tendency tomelanism, several wholly black wildspecimens having been recorded. The inveterate propensity to pick out the buds of gooseberry andcurrant bushes in winter or spring (no matter whether they are soundor infested with grubs) is deservedly detested by gardeners, who wouldwillingly forego such enjoyment as can be derived from the song ofthe cock if the species were exterminated. Twigs externally, and themain structure of small roots characterise the neatly built nest of thebullfinch, which at the proper season contains from four to half-a-dozenpretty blue eggs heavily spotted at the larger end with rusty spots,and likewise bearing superficial purplish-brown blotches and spots. Although many reputed occurrences in the British Isles of the circum-polar pine-grosbeak, or pine-finch, Piiiocola (or Pyrrhnltx) eiiucleator, have. yOUNTEO IN THE ROWL RO STUDIOS BULLFINXII. 5 74 PERCHING BIRDS been recorded, the majority of these, according to a well-known authority,are untrustworthy ; and since authenticated visitations are apparentlyvery few, the species may be dismissed without further mention. u fi ph ^^^^ large and handsome, albeit soberly coloured, (Coecothraustes hawfinch (which appears in some works under the vule-aris) name of Coecothraustes coccotlirmtstcs) is the typical representative of the Coccothraustina,*, or third and last subfamily of the Fringillidai. The distinctive feature of this group is to be found in the backward extension of the horny sheath of the upper half of the beak beyondthe front rim of the bony socketof the eye ; while the inferiorborder of the lower half of thebeak is nearly straight. The conical beak and thesickle-shaped tips of the innerprimary quills distinguish thehawfinch from all other Britishbirds. The cock is character-ised by a nar
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Keywords: ., bookauthorlydekkerrichard184919, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
