264 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



THE YELLOW=HAMMER, OR 

 YELLOW=BUNTINQ 



(Emberiza citrinella). 

 Plate 88. 



A much handsomer bird than the Corn-Bunting is 

 the Yellow-Hammer. It is a rather smaller bird, of 

 lighter and more graceful build, and has in addition the 

 distinctive bright plumage which makes it such a well- 

 known species. Even the female shows much brighter 

 colour than the Corn-Bunting, and the male is resplendent 

 in yellow and chestnut. Immature birds, however, are 

 much duller in hue. 



The name ' Yellow-Bunting '' is little more than a 

 book -name, for the species is popularly known as the 

 ' Yellow-Hammer "* ; the word ' hammer ■" being, however, 

 merely a corruption of the German ampmer — Anglice^ 

 ' bunting.' ' Yellow- Yite "" is a widespread popular name. 



The Yellow-Hammer is abundant in all suitable parts 

 of the British Isles, and its haunts are similar to those 

 of the Corn-Bunting. Even in some of the outlying 

 Scottish isles it is found, but not in the Shetland 

 group except as a winter visitor. Like the Corn- 

 Bunting, it is something of a migrant, although more 

 or less resident as a species throughout our area. In 

 winter it becomes gregarious. 



The song has already been mentioned as being a 

 rather higher form than that of the Corn-Bunting, 

 but of similar type. It consists of a series of rapidly 

 uttered hard notes, terminated by a long - drawn - out 

 ' wheeze."" This note is very characteristic, and the only 

 bird-sound at all like it is the call-note of the Green- 



