YELLOW BUNTING. 45 



Under such circumstances the Yellow Hammer's drowsy 

 strain is far from inharmonious. But it is not only at this 

 period of the year that his song is heard. Towards the end 

 of January or early in February almost any gleam of sun- 

 shine will awaken his vocal powers, and as he sits aloft to 

 catch its first or last rays his simple melody attracts the ear 

 until with advancing spring it is drowned in the full burst of 

 song. 



The Yellow Bunting is generally a late breeder, seldom 

 laying its eggs till the middle of April, while they have been 

 found unhatched even in September (Zool. s.s. p. 1132). The 

 nest is most frequently placed upon or very near the ground, 

 sheltered by a bush, in a hedge-bottom or on the side of 

 a grass-grown bank ; and the moss, roots and hair of which 

 it is composed are usually well put together. Ex- 

 ceptions to all these points however occasionally happen. 

 Mr. Blackwall, many years since, noticed (Zool. Journ. v. 

 p. 12) the fact, which came under his own observation, of 

 a hen-bird of this species laying her eggs on the bare 

 ground, in which situation she sat upon them till they 

 were hatched ; and Salmon mentions (Nat. ii. p. 274) his 

 having found a nest, in 1834, at the extraordinary elevation 

 of seven feet from the ground, placed among the branches 

 of a broom-plant, which, though naked at the bottom, had a 

 close, thick head. 



The eggs are of a pale purplish-white, streaked or veined 

 with very dark irregular lines of reddish-purple, almost 

 black, in addition to which there are often a few spots of the 

 same, which occasionally are greatly diffused over the whole 

 surface, and the eggs may then be sai.d to be clouded with 

 dull reddish-purple : some patches of lavender are also at 

 times present. The eggs measure from "96 to *74 by from 

 •68 to '58 in. The male is remarkable for his attentions to 

 his mate, and has been said to take his turn upon the 

 eggs during the period of incubation ; while Neville Wood 

 mentions having heard him sing when thus engaged. The 

 young are generally ready to leave the nest within a fort- 

 night after the time of being hatched ; but if often visited 



