BUNTING 6i 



called by Linnseus Emheriza miliaria^ but now used in a general sense 

 for all members of the Family Emherizidx, which are closely allied 

 to the Fringillidx (Finch). The Buntings generally may be out- 

 wardly distinguished from the Finches by their angular gape, 

 the posterior portion of which is greatly deflected ; and most of 

 the Old- World forms, together with some of those of the New 

 World, have a bony knob on the palate — a swollen out growth of 

 the dentary edges of the bill. Correlated with this peculiarity 

 the maxilla usually has the tomia siuuated, and is generally 

 concave, and smaller and narrower than the mandible, which is 

 also concave to receive the palatal knob. In most other respects 

 the Buntings greatly resemble the Finches, but their eggs are 

 generally distinguishable by the irregular hair-like marldngs on the 

 shell. In the British Islands by far the commonest species of 

 Bunting is the Yellow Hamjvier, E. citrinella, but the true Bunting 

 (or Corn-Bunting, or Bunting-Lark, as it is called in some districts) 

 is a very well known bird, while the Reed-Bunting, E. schcenidus, 

 frequents marshy soils almost to the exclusion of the two former. 

 In certain localities in the south of England the Cirl-Bunting, E. 

 cirlus, is also a resident ; and in winter vast flocks of the Snow- 

 Bunting, Plcdrophcmes nivalis, at once recognizable by its pointed 

 wings and elongated hind- claws, resort to our shores and open 

 grounds. This last breeds sparingly on the highest mountains of 

 Scotland, the fact being placed beyond doubt by the discovery of a 

 nest and young in 188G by Messrs. B. N. Peach and L. N. 

 Hinxman, as briefly recorded soon after by Mr. Harvie-Brown 

 {Zoologist, 1886, p. 336), and with full details in the Vertebrate 

 Fauna of Sutherland by that gentleman and Mr. Buckley (pp. 

 138-143, pi.); but the flocks which visit us come from northern 

 regions, for it is a species which in summer inhabits the whole 

 circumpolar area. The Ortolan, E. hortulana, so highly prized for 

 its delicate flavour, occasionally appears in England, but this island 

 lies outside its proper range. On the continent of Europe, in 

 Africa, and throughout Asia, many other species are found, while 

 in America the number belonging to the Family cannot at present 

 be computed. As already stated, the beautiful and melodious 

 Cardinal, Cardinalis virginianus, often called the Virginian 

 Nightingale, probably has to be included in this Family, but doubts 

 exist as to the Bobolink, though it is commonly known as the Rice- 

 Bunting. Whether any species of Emberizidse inhabit the Austra- 

 lian Region is yet to be proved ; but it would seem possible that 

 several genera of Australian birds hitherto classed with the FriTir 

 gillidx may have to be assigned to the Emlerizidse. 



figure of the true Bunting is very evident to any observer. Any connexion with 

 the German hunt or the Dutch bonte ( = pied or variegated) is said to be most 

 unlikely. 



