Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/419

387&#93; BUL Raised small oak trees, merely by ^vater, in which lie kept them eight years : they produced fine leaves every spring, and grew more rapid- ly during the two first years, than it they had been planted in the best earth: an useful hint this to the cultivators of that noble tree! As bulbs immersed in water produce roots, stem, and leaves, we might be induced to think, that the order of their growth, in these dilierent parts, would be alike ; but experience evinces the con- trary. DuHAMEL CUt oft" SOllie of the largest hyacinth-roots, almost two fingers breadth from their ends; then placed the bulb on a bottie, in such a position, that the end of the cut root touched the water ; and made a mark on the outside of the bottle, exactly oppo- site to the extremity of the root ; he likewise made marks corre- sponding to the ends of some en- tire roots. The latter continued growing, and soon extended be- yond the mark of their former tength j but the ends of the cut roots remained stationary. This experiment cleariy demonstrates, tjjat roots only grow at their end. BULFINCH, or /jy/rWa, a spe- cies of bird comprehended under the genus Loxia, and so generally known as to require but little de- scription. The head, wings, and tail are black 5 the breast and belly red; the upper tail, coverts and vent, white ; and the breast of an adi-coiour. In the female, the dinder parts are of a reddish brown. This bird is common in most parts of the Continent, and throughout Russia and Siberia, at which last places it is caught for the table. It is also pretty general in England, and builds in bushes, five or six. BUL [ 3 8 7 feet from the ground. The nest is principally composed of moss, and the eggs, which are five or six in number, are of a blueish white colour, marked at the large end wuh dark spots. The time of breeding is about die end of May, or the beginning of June; and in summer its principal residence is in woods; but in winter it approaches gardens and orchards, and is, per- haps, unjustly stigmatized for de- stroying the buds of trees, though it appears that its object is not the bud itself, but " the worm in the bud," and that the bulfinch is one of those species of birds that de- fend the embryo fruits, by destroy- ing the nests of innumerable in- sects, and thus promote their growth. In its wild state, the bulfinch has a simple note, but when tamed, it becomes remark- ably docile, and may be taught to whistle any notes, or even a whole tune, in the most accurate man- ner. There is a considerable num- ber of these birds annually import- ed trom Germany, some of which are even taught to speak, but they are remarkable for imitating wind- music, particularly fiagelets. When bullfinches are taken young, they may be reared in the same manner as a linnet. The best way to distinguish the cock of this bird from the hen, is, to ptdl half a dozen feathers from its breast, when about three weeks old, and in ten or twelve days af- ter, they will appear of a brightish red. BULL, or Bos Taurus, in zoo- logy, is naturally a fierce and ter- rible animal, having cylindrical horns, bent outwards, and loose dewlaps. When chased, he has a majestic and sullen air, often tear- ing up the ground with his feet and C c 2. horns.