THE BUNTINGS. 71 



Range in Great Britain. — Very local, and chiefly confined to 

 the Southern Counties of England. Unknown in Ireland ; 

 only found as a rare straggler to Scotland. It has been known 

 to breed as far north as Brecon, and in the Midlands, but 

 further north it is only of accidental occurrence. 



Range outside the British Islands. — Principally a western bird, 

 and an inhabitant of Central and Southern Europe, extending 

 east to Asia Minor, and breeding, it is said, as far east as the 

 Crimea. It is also found in North Africa, and breeds there, 

 but is principally known as a winter visitor. 



Habits. — A much shyer and more woodland species than the 

 Yellow Bunting, though its song is similar to that of the last- 

 named bird, and its call-note is almost the same. There is, 

 however, a difference in tone which can be detected by any- 

 one accustomed to that of the Cirl Bunting, as the latter bird 

 has not the prolonged final note of the Yellow Bunting. In 

 autumn small flocks of the present species disperse themselves 

 over the stubbles, in company with other Buntings and Finches, 

 feeding, like the latter, on seeds and grain. 



Nest. — A cup-shaped structure, made of roots and grasses, 

 and lined with finer roots and leaves, with a little moss. Placed 

 sometimes on the ground, like that of the Yellow Bunting, but 

 is generally built in bushes, and sometimes at a height of six 

 feet from the ground. 



Eggs. — Four or five in number, very similar in character to 

 those of the Yellow Bunting, but the ground-colour lighter, 

 greyish or pinkish-white, and the lines and scribblings very 

 distinct, purplish-black in colour, more pronounced, as a rule, 

 than those of the Yellow Bunting. Axis, o'S-0'85 ; diam., 

 o'6-o'7. 



VII. THE ORTOLAN BUNTING. EMBERIZA HORTULANA. 



Ember iza hortulana, Linn., S. N., i., p. 309 (1766); Macg., Br. 



B., i., p- 457 (1837) ; Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 185, pi. 211 



(1871); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 57 (1876); B. O. U. 



List Br. B., p. 61 (1883) ; Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 153 (1884); 



Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 530 (1888); Saunders, 



Man., p. 205 (1889). 

 Adult Male. — General colour above pale reddish-brown, with 

 dusky streaks on the back and scapulars, less distinct on 



