BIRDS OF THE FIELD 273 



Of the ten species of Bunting, two only, tlie 

 Common or Corn Bunting and the Yellow-hammer, 

 are familiar English field birds. 



The Reed Bunting is a denizen of the marshes, 

 and the Ortolan (beloved of the epicure), the Lap- 

 land, Rustic, Little and the Black-headed Buntings 

 are all of the rarest occurrence. The Cirl Bunting, 

 too, is an uncommon species in England except in 

 the more southern counties, and even here it is by 

 no means numerous. It may be distinguished by 

 the black and lemon streaked head, and it differs 

 from the Yellow-hammer in the fact that the male 

 resorts to the tops of high trees in order to sing. 

 The Snow Bunting — a beautiful variety with back 

 and wings mottled with chestnut and black, and 

 with head and breast of the purest white — is more 

 abundant, visiting these shores in winter, and 

 occasionally, although rarely, breeding in Scotland. 

 When a flock is seen hovering or alighting against 

 a dark background, the black and white of the 

 plumage gives them a singularly picturesque 

 appearance, and one can well understand how they 

 liave come to acquire the name of Snowflake. 



The Yellow-hammer is by far the most abundant 

 of the Bunting race. Wander where one will in 

 English fields and lanes, one is almost certain to 

 catch a glimpse of its familiar form. It seems to 

 court rather than to evade observation. See it as 

 it perches on some overhanging branch of the 

 hedge, on the summit of a gate-post, or on the 

 handle of a plough, its crest slightly raised and its 

 yellow plumage glancing in the sun as it reiterates 



