BRITISH BIRDS. 53 



Corn Bunting. — This is a British species, pretty 

 generally distribatecl, but seldom noticed oh account of its 

 shy and retirinoj haVjits. 



It is of a brownish grey colour, darker above than below, 

 and heavil}^ spotted with blackish brown in both situations ; 

 there is a faint rusty red tinge on the wings, and a bluish 

 one on the breast and belly ; the bill and legs and feet 

 are yellowish grey. 



The female is indistinguishable outwardly from her mate. 



The nest is generally placed on the ground among grass. 

 It is loosely put together, and made of grass, roots, and 

 moss, lined with hair. The eggs are four or five in 

 number, are gre}^ speckled and streaked with chestnut and 

 black. 



Tiiey are easily tamed, an^l will even build in a garden 

 aviary. 



The food consists about equally of seeds and insects. 

 Length, 7} inches ; tail, 3. 



Yellowhammer. — This well-known species, like the last, 

 is resident througliout Britain, but wanders about a good 

 deal during the winter. Its coloration is very variable, 

 that of an adult male being as follows : — Head, neck, and 

 all lower parts bright yellow, shaded with chestnut on the 

 crown and face ; along the sides are a number of elongated 

 reddish black spots ; the upper parts are brown, with 

 light lacing to the different feathers, especially the wing 

 coverts. 



The female has very little yellow^ about her, and her 

 back and wings are rather greyish than reddish brown. 



The nest is built generally in a low bush, or among 

 brambles. It is compactly put together, and, as a rule, 

 fairly well concealed. The eggs are generally five, of a 

 pale purplish white, spotted with brown, and marked with 

 a number of zigzag lines of a greyish colour. 



