PYRRHULA. BULLFINCH.

BILL short, very strong, subpentagonal and about as high as broad at the base. Upper mandible with its dorsal outline convex, the sides much rounded, the edges sharp, at first ascending, then nearly straight, and forming a wide sinus or curve towards the tip, which is decurved and contracts to a narrow but rather blunt point extending considerably beyond the other. Lower mandible with the angle very broad and semicircular, the dorsal line ascending and a little convex, the back very broad, the sides much rounded, the edges involute, with a thin angular prominence near the middle, the tip slightly compressed and rounded.

The mouth is of moderate width; the upper mandible within deeply and widely concave, with five prominent lines and six grooves, of which the lateral are deeper and receive the edges of the lower mandible, which is very deeply concave. Tongue very short, fleshy, oblong, concave above. Esophagus dilated into a membranous crop; proventriculus oblong. Stomach a strong gizzard. Intestine of moderate length, rather wide; cœca minute.

Nostrils basal, in the very short broad nasal sinus, rather small, round, covered by reflected bristly feathers. Eyes rather small. External aperture of the ear large and circular.

Body moderately stout; neck short; head rather large. Legs short and rather slender; tarsus very short, compressed, covered anteriorly with seven scutella, posteriorly with two narrow plates meeting at an acute angle; toes slender and short, the first proportionally stout, the third much longer than the

two lateral, which are about equal; claws rather long, arched, much compressed, acute, laterally grooved.

Plumage soft, full, blended, the feathers oblong. At the base of the upper mandible are short bristly feathers directed forwards. Wings of moderate length, with eighteen quills; the primaries rounded, the secondaries slightly emarginate; the second, third, and fourth quills longest, and with the fifth having their outer webs slightly cut out. Tail rather long, emarginate, of twelve moderately broad feathers.

The species included in this genus vary considerably in the comparative length of the bill, which however is so peculiarly characterized by its bulging form that the small shades of difference presented by it do not seem sufficient to warrant a separation. I therefore agree with M. Temminck in referring our Common Bullfinch and the Pine Grosbeak of the older writers to the same genus. Cuvier separates the Bouvreuils, Pyrrhula, from the Durbecs, Corythus; but the distinctive character which he gives is insignificant, the former being characterized by having "the bill rounded, and bulging or convex in all directions," the latter by having it " bulging on all sides, its point curved over the lower mandible." The point is curved in the Common Bullfinch, but is not so extended as in the Pine Bullfinch. The former is the only species resident in Britain, and the latter has so rarely been met with there that I have never seen a British specimen.

PYRRHULA PILEATA. THE COMMON

BULLFINCH. ALP.

BULLFINCH.

POPE. NOPE. TONY-HOOP. RED-HOOP. COAL-HOOD, OR COALLY-HOOD. DEARGAN-CHOILLE.

Male with the upper part of the head, a band round the base of the lower mandible, the wings, upper tail-coverts, and tail, bluish-black, the back ash-grey, the rump white, the lower parts bright red. Female with the same parts black, the back brownishgrey, the lower parts dull yellowish-brown.

MALE. In this species the bill is remarkably short and bulging, all its outlines being convex, and the decurved tip of the upper mandible not much exceeding that of the lower. The head is large, the neck short, the body ovate, and moderately stout. The upper mandible is broadly and deeply concave within, its two lateral grooves for the reception of the edges of the lower mandible very distinct. The tongue is very short, fleshy, oblong, concave above. The oesophagus, which is two

and a half inches long, is about the middle dilated into a membranous bag or crop; the proventriculus oblong, with cylindrical glandules. The gizzard is of the ordinary form, its greatest diameter seven twelfths of an inch, its cuticular coat thick, tough and rugous. The intestine is ten inches long, with a diameter varying from two and a half twelfths to one twelfth, the cœca a twelfth and a half long. The tarsi are short and much compressed, with seven large anterior scutella; the first toe with five, the second with nine, the third with twelve, the fourth with eleven scutella; the claws arched, much compressed, acute, laterally grooved.

The plumage is soft and blended; the feathers oblong and rounded, with a long plumule of few filaments. Around the base of the bill the feathers are bristle-pointed, and conceal the nostrils. The wings are of ordinary length; the third quill longest, the second scarcely shorter, the fourth longer than the first; the secondaries are rather long, broad, and very slightly emarginate. Tail nearly straight, slightly emarginate, of twelve broad, rounded feathers, having a small tip.

The bill is brownish-black, the eyes dark brown; the feet dusky flesh-colour, the claws brownish-black. The whole upper part of the head, and a band at the base of the lower mandible, glossy black, with blue reflections. The hind-neck, back, and scapulars are ash-grey; the rump and lower tailcoverts pure white; the upper tail-coverts and tail glossy bluish black. The quills, primary coverts, and alula are brownishblack, the outer webs of the secondaries glossed with blue; the secondary coverts glossy bluish-black, their tips pale bluish-grey or greyish-white, forming a conspicuous bar on the wing; the small coverts ash-grey. The cheeks, fore-neck, breast and sides are light red, of a tint between lake and vermilion; the abdomen greyish-white.

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Length to end of tail 6 inches; extent of wings 919; bill along the ridge of upper mandible, along the edge of lower ; wing from flexure 3,; tail 24; tarsus ; first toe 23 twelfths, its claw; second toe, its claw; third toe 1, its claw; fourth toe, its claw.

FEMALE. The female is considerably smaller. The character of the colouring is similar to that of the male; but the tints are much duller. The black is scarcely inferior in depth or lustre; the grey of the back is tinged with brown; the white on the rump is of less extent, that of the lower tail-coverts less pure; the cheeks, fore-neck, breast and sides are of a dull greyish-brown. The bill is black; the iris brown; the feet brownish, the claws black.

Length to end of tail 519; extent of wings 919.

VARIATIONS.-In old birds the principal variations are in the red colour of the lower parts, in a few white feathers being rarely seen in the wings, and sometimes in the inner secondaries being tinged with red. In captivity the whole plumage sometimes becomes black or dusky. Individuals also vary considerably in size, the largest being 64 inches long.

HABITS.-The Bullfinch is generally distributed in Britain, occurring in most of our wooded and cultivated districts, but avoiding bare maritime tracts, as well as the northern islands, which are destitute of wood. It is not, however, very common anywhere, and seldom associates with other birds, but keeps in small flocks of a single family. Its flight is quick and undulated, its ordinary note a soft plaintive whistle, its song short and mellow; and during the greater part of the year it lives in the thickets, hedges, and woods, betaking itself occasionally to the fields in their neighbourhood, in search of seeds, and in spring and the early part of summer to gardens and orchards, where it commits great havock among the flower-buds of the fruit-trees and gooseberry-bushes. The only substances which I have found in its crop and stomach were small seeds of various kinds, and particles of quartz; and of the individuals thus examined some were shot in February and April; but, as the species is not common in any place where I have resided in spring, I have not been able to ascertain whether, in destroying buds and flowers, the bird is searching for insects, or feeding on these substances. Judging from the structure of its diges