it is composed of dry grass, and lined with hair, wool, and other warm materials; she lays five or six eggs, of a pale greenish colour, marked at the larger end with spots of a reddish brown; she is so close a sitter, that she may sometimes be taken on her nest. The male is very attentive to his mate during the time of incubation, and takes his turn in sitting. Though not distinguished for its note, which is short, plaintive, and monotonous, this bird is sometimes kept in a cage, and soon becomes familiar.

(Loxia Pyrrhula,* Linn.-Le Bouvreuil, Buff.)

THE bill is dusky; eyes black; the upper part of the head, the ring round the bill, and the origin of the neck fine glossy black;† the back ash grey; breast and belly red; wings and tail black; the upper tail coverts and vent are white; legs dark brown. The female is very like the male, but the colours are less bright, and the under parts of a reddish brown. They are always seen in pairs.

Temminck has formed a new genus of the Bullfinches, in which he includes the Pine Grosbeak.

+ Hence in some countries it is called Monk or Pope, and in Scotland it is not improperly denominated Coally-hood.

The Bullfinch sometimes changes its plumage, and becomes wholly black during its confinement, especially when fed with hempseed. In the British Museum there is a variety of the Bullfinch entirely white: we have seen others in the same plumage.

This bird is common in every part of our island, as well as in most parts of Europe; its usual haunts, during summer, are woods and thickets, but in winter it approaches nearer to cultivated grounds, and feeds on seeds, winter berries, &c.; in the spring it frequents gardens, where it is usefully busy in destroying the worms which are lodged in the tender buds. The female makes her nest in bushes; it is composed chiefly of moss; she lays five or six eggs, of a dull bluish white, marked at the larger end with dark spots. In a wild state, its note is very simple; but when kept in a cage, its song, though in an under subdued tone, is far from being unpleasant. Both male and female may be taught to whistle a variety of tunes. They are frequently imported into this country from Germany, where they are taught to articulate, with great distinctness, several words.

Of the Bunting.

THE principal difference between this kind and the last consists in the formation of the bill, which in the Bunting is of a very singular construction. The two mandibles are moveable, and the edges of each bend inwards; the opening of the mouth is not in a straight line as in other birds, but at the base the junction is formed by an obtuse angle in the lower mandible, nearly one-third of its length, which is received by a corresponding angle in the upper one; in the latter there is a strong knob, of great use in breaking the harder kinds of seeds and kernels, on which it feeds. The tongue is narrow, and tapers to a point like a tooth pick; the first joint of the outer toe is joined to that of the middle one.

THE BUNTING.

(Emberiza Miliaria, Linn.—Le Proyer, Buff.)

THE length of this bird is about seven inches and a half. The bill is brown; irides hazel; the general colour resembles that of a Lark; the throat white, the upper parts olive brown, each feather streaked down the middle with black; the under parts are dirty yellowish white, streaked on the sides with dark brown, and spotted with the same on the breast; the quills dusky, with yellowish edges; upper coverts tipped with white; tail feathers much the same as the wings, and somewhat forked: legs pale brown.

The Bunting is very common in all parts of the country, and may be frequently observed on the highest part of a hedge, or uppermost branch of a tree, uttering its harsh and dissonant cry, at short intervals; they