82 THE BIRDS OP OXFORDSHIRE. 



round stackyards, they feed, in company with the other small 



birds, always retiring- at simdown to roost among the dead 



rushes and rough hedges in the valleys. 



\^- 

 THE BUNTING. i 



Etnheriza miliaria. 

 The Bunting, or Corn-Bunting, is a common resident, 

 breeding usually on the high-lying arable lands. All 

 through the summer (for it is one of the few birds that 

 will sing on until mid-August and even later), in such 

 localities, you may hear its harsh, stridulant song, as it sits 

 on the top of some low tree, hedge, or stone wall amid the 

 corn-fields. In summer they are rarely found away from such 

 spots, but in early autumn they flock together and resort to 

 the lower grass-fields to some extent. In winter again they 

 consort with other small birds on the stubbles, and round 

 stack- and cattle-yards, and retire at sunset in little flocks to 

 roost on the ground in grass-fields and rough hassocky 

 meadows ; this I believe is their invariable custom, as I have 

 often flushed them from such situations after dark, and 

 the batfowlers do not take them in the hedges. The Oxford- 

 shire name for this bird is ' Buntlark.'' 



THE YELLOW BUNTING. ' -.^ 



Eniheriza ciirineUa. 

 The Yellow Bunting, or Yellow Hammer, is an abundant 

 resident, nesting along almost every hedgerow, and gathering 

 together in flocks in winter, wherever in field or farmyard 

 there is promise of anything in the way of corn or seeds. A 

 common wayside bird, its bright colours and drawling, mono- 

 tonous song, heard from the first mild weather in February on 

 through the whole summer, must be familiar to every one who 

 cares for country sights and sounds. Although a very gener- 

 ally distributed species, the Yellow Hammer is most abundant 

 on the upland arable country. 



