THE BUNTINGS. 69 



V. THE YELLOW BUNTING. EMBERIZA CITRINELLA. 



Emberiza citrinella, Linn., S. N., i., p. 309 (1766) ; Macg., Br. 

 B., i., p. 445 (1837); Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 171, pi. 

 209 (1871); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 43 (1876) ; B. O. U. 

 List Br. B., p. 60 (1883) ; Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 160 (1884) ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 515 (1888); Saunders, 

 Man., p. 201 (1889); Wyatt, Br. B., pi. 17 (1894). 



Adult Male. — Brown above, with black centres to the feathers; 

 lower back and rump vinous-chestnut ; under surface of body 

 yellow, greener on the fore-neck and sides of neck ; no stripes 

 on the throat and breast, but the flanks distinctly streaked with 

 blackish-brown ; crown yellow, greenish on the sides ; eyebrow 

 yellow ; breast and sides of the body chestnut or bay. Total 

 length, 7 inches; culmen, 0-45: wings, 3*6; tail,3*o; tarsus,o'75. 



In winter the colours are much duller, and the bright 

 plumage, especially of the chestnut breast, is much obscured. 

 In the spring the dusky edges gradually become abraded and 

 wear off, so that the full plumage is gained without a moult. 



Adult Female. — Never so brightly coloured as the male, and 

 having the yellow on the crown concealed, and the throat and 

 breast striped. Total length, 6*3; wing, 3'2. 



Young.— Resembles the old female, but is very distinctly 

 streaked below. 



Range in Great Britain. — Universal, breeding everywhere, ex- 

 cept in the Orkneys, where it is only known as a visitant. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Generally resident through- 

 out Central Europe, but a summer visitor in the northern 

 portion of its range, which extends as far as 70 in Scandi- 

 navia, 65 k° in Eastern Russia, and 64 on the River Ob. It 

 reaches Turkestan to the eastward, but is only a winter visitor, 

 as it is also to the greater part of Southern Europe. 



Habits. — In England a very common and familiar bird, 

 recognisable in every country lane and hedgerow by its some- 

 what monotonous note, which sounds like "a little bit of 

 bread and — no cheese." In winter it joins with the Chaffinches, 

 Sparrows, and Greenfinches in the stubbles and farm-yards, and 

 feeds largely on grain. The young birds, however, are entirely 

 fed on insects and caterpillars. 



