BUNTING 61 
ealled by Linneus Hmberiza miliaria, but now used in a general sense 
for all members of the Family Hmberizidx, which are closely allied 
to the Fringillidz (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 sinuated, 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 markings on the 
shell. In the British Islands by far the commonest species of 
Bunting is the YELLOW HAmmer, 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, £. schwniclus, 
frequents marshy soils almost to the exclusion of the two former. 
In certain localities in the south of England the Cirl-Bunting, Z. 
culus, is also a resident; and in winter vast flocks of the Snow- 
Bunting, Plectrophanes 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 1886 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, pl.); 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. hortu/ana, 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 Hmberizide 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 Frin- 
gillide may have to be assigned to the Hmbcrizidx. 
figure of the true Bunting is very evident to any observer. Any connexion with 
~ the German bunt or the Dutch bonte (= pied or variegated) is said to be most 
nnlikely. 
