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BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



BUNTING, YELLOW (Emberiza citrinella) 



Local Names. — Blacksmith, Blakcling, Cheeser, Devil's Bird, Gladdy, 

 Golden Gladdy, Goldie, Goldspink, Gooler, Gool Finch, Scobby, 

 Scotch Canary, Scribbling Lark, Shell Apple, Shelly, Shilfa, 

 Skelly, Skite, Writing Lark, Writing Master, Yeldrin, Yeldrock, 

 Yellie, Yellow Ammer or Hammer, 

 Yellow Yeldring, Yellow Yeldrock, 

 Yellow Yeorling, Yellow Yite, Yellow 

 Yoldrin, Yellow Yowley, Yoit, Yold- 

 ring, Yolkring. 



Haunt. — Hedgerows, lanes, and commons; 

 visits stackyards. 



Nesting Period. — April to August. 



Site of Nest. — In a bush or hedgerow, 

 usually low down. Often in a bank, 

 sometimes right on the ground. 



Materials Used. — Coarse and fine grasses, 

 with a little moss, lined with roots and 

 hair. The nest varies in size, but is 

 generally fairly deep and substantial. 



Eggs. — Three, although most ornitholo- 

 gists seem to favour Four or Five. 

 This is contrary to my own experi- 

 ence. Dirty white, with an ashy 

 tinge, streaked and spotted with 

 dark purplish-brown. The irregular lines run into one another. 



Food. — Insects in Summer, seeds and grain in Winter. 



Voice. — A characteristic and harsh call-note, and a curious little 

 song consisting of several notes persistently uttered. These 

 have been aptly compared to the words, " A little bit of bread, 

 and no cheese," the last word being long drawn out. 



Chief Features. — The male is one of the most handsome British 

 birds, and is far better known as Yellow Hammer. The curious 

 markings on the eggs account for the name of Scribbling Lark. 

 The bird often mounts the topmost twigs of a bush and there 

 sings its curious little song. 



Plumage. — The rich bright colours of the male are made up of — 

 head, neck, and under parts golden-yellow, with a sprinkling 

 of dark olive; black back, interspersed with reddish-grey; 

 yellow breast, spotted with red. In the female the yellow is not 

 of so bright a character, and she is spotted with dull reddish- 

 brown. Length. — Six and a quarter inches. 



Yellow Bunting. 



