70 RICE BUNTING. 



the seed of the Guinea grass, and are also in high esteem there for the 

 table.* 



Thus it appears, that the regions north of the fortieth degree of lati 

 tude are the breeding places of these birds ; that their migrations north- 

 erly are performed from March to May, and their return southerly from 

 August to November ; their precise winter quarters, or farthest retreat 

 southerly, is not exactly known. 



The Rice Bunting is seven inches and a half long, and eleven and a 

 half in extent ; his spring dress is as follows ; upper part of the head, 

 wings, tail and sides of the neck, and whole lower parts black ; the 

 feathers frequently skirted with brownish yellow as he passes into the 

 colors of the female ; back of the head a cream color ; back black, 

 seamed with brownish yellow; scapulars pure white, rump and tail 

 coverts the same ; lower part of the back bluish white ; tail formed like 

 those of the Woodpecker genus, and often used in the same manner, 

 being thrown in to support it while ascending the stalks of the reed ; 

 this habit of throwing in the tail it retains even in the cage ; legs a 

 brownish flesh color ; hind heel very long ; bill a bluish horn color ; eye 

 hazel ; see fig. 1. In the month of June this plumage gradually changes 

 to a brownish yellow, like that of the female, fig. 2, which has the back 

 streaked with brownish black ; whole lower parts dull yellow ; bill 

 reddish flesh color ; legs and eyes as in the male. The young birds 

 retain the dress of the female- until the early part of the succeeding 

 spring; the plumage of the female undergoes no material change of 

 color. 



* Rennel's Hist. Jam. 



