OF THE BIRDS MENTIONED 237 
rr. YELLOW-HAMMER OR YELLOW BUNTING 
(Pages 166-8) 
Emberiza citrinella. Emberiza, low Lat., a bunting, 
from a similar German word for bunting. Cvztrus, Lat.., 
the lemon, or citron. Origin of Bunting unknown. 
Yellow-hammer, really Yellow-ammer from old Saxon 
amore, a bird. Syn.: Goldie, etc. Found: Widely 
- distributed. Frequents: Waste lands and commons. 
General description, size and plumage: A heavy-looking 
bird, rather larger than a sparrow, length 64 inches, of a 
reddish-brown and bright yellow colour; upper parts 
reddish-brown with dusky spots ; head, neck, breast and 
under parts bright yellow ; depth of shades vary ; shows 
the white of its tail feathers in flight. Habits: Very fond 
of perching on the top of a high bush. Sedentary, often 
remains motionless on its high perch, uttering its notes. 
Assemble in flocks in the autumn and winter associat- 
ing with chaffinches, greenfinches, and the common 
buntings. Flocks take to tops of trees if disturbed. 
May roost on the ground in summer. Flight: Louping, 
strong and rapid. Tail (which is dull black with out- 
side white feathers) often displayed in flight. Notes : 
Monotonous, often uttered, spelt, ‘ chit-chit—chirr-r-r,’ 
said by country-folk to resemble, ‘ Bit of bread and no 
cheese.’ The long drawn out ‘ cheese ’ is very character- 
istic, uttered perched. Food: Seeds in winter, insects 
