THE BUNTINGS 187 



chat it is very sweet, most nearly resembling that of 

 a Robin, and uttered as the bird sits conspicuously 

 on the top of a bush ; whilst the song of the Yellow- 

 breasted Bunting [Eiuberiza aureola) is said by the 

 natives of Dauria to be the finest bird music heard 

 in their country. Some of the more aberrant species 

 in the family are also fine songsters, notably the 

 Cardinal of North America, which in some places 

 is justly termed the Virginian Nightingale. None 

 of the British species are specially remarkable for 

 their song ; that of the Common Bunting [Efuberiza 

 miliaria) is most harsh and grating ; but the music 

 of others forms a pleasing variation in the music of 

 the fields. 



