FKINGILLIDJE. 247 



tlieir food consists of the seeds of plants, grasses, 

 and reeds, and, in warm weather, insects. They 

 build in low bushes, or on the ground, behind tufts 

 of grass. Their nest is composed of dried grasses 

 lined with softer materials. They lay from four to 

 six eggs. 



The Buntings are distinguished from other Pas- 

 serine birds by their conical, short, and straight 

 bill, but more especially by the existence of a knob 

 in the roof of the upper mandible, which is made 

 use of as an anvil on which to break and comminute 

 hard seeds. They do not, however, feed exclusively 

 on vegetable matter, but, like most of their order, 

 subsist partly upon animal substances. 



The type of the race is — 



The Yellow Ammer (Emberiza citrinella). Few of 

 our native birds are more delicately or more beautifully 

 coloured than the Yellow Ammer, or Y^ellow Buntmg, 

 but, being very abundant, it is less noticed than it 

 deserves, except as an intiiider, with other granivorous 

 birds, into the stack-yard. During the ' winter the 

 Yellow Ammers collect in small flocks, or associate with 

 flocks of' the Common Bunting (Emberiza miliaris). In 

 sprmg, durmg the pairing season, the male may often be 

 observed on the topmost twig of a hedgerow, uttermg a 

 monotonous chirp : if approached, it flies off, keeping along 

 the liedge, and settles at a little distance ; if followed, it 

 repeats this short flight again and again. The Y^'ellow 

 Ammer builds on the ground, in low bushes, in beds of 

 nettles or other herbage : its nest is formed of chied 

 grasses, mth a lining of hair. The eggs are of a pale 

 purplish white, with streaks and waving marks of choco- 

 late-colour. This species ls to be met with throughout 

 the greater pai-t of Europe. 



We owe to Mr. Yarrell the restoration to this bird of 

 its origmal name Yellow Ammer, so often printed and 

 pronounced "Yellow Hammer." The word " Ammer " 

 is the common German word for Bunting ; as, for example, 

 " Sclmee Ammer," Snow Buntmg ; " Garten Ammer," 

 Garden Bunting; "Rohr Ammer," Reed Bunting, &c. 



