380 THE YELLOW-BUNTING, OR YELLOW-HAMMER. 



any other time, for, after their domestic duties are done, they 

 either collect in flocks, and are mistaken for larks, or mingle 

 with other birds, such as larks, finches, other buntings, and 

 sparrows, and fly along with them in winter unnoticed. 

 Although it remains all year and generally distributed, it is not 

 very plentiful in any district. It begins to breed in April, and 

 lays from four to six eggs, about the size of the sky-lark's, but 

 lighter in colour, pale indigo, spotted with large dark spots, 

 something like the reed-bunting's, but, being larger, are easily 

 known from any other bunting's. The nest is made of twigs, 

 roots, moss and dry grass, lined with finer grass, sometimes a 

 few hairs. It is loosely formed, which does not matter, as it is 

 usually placed on or near the ground, in a tuft of grass or 

 weeds, or at the root of a low shrub in the open field some 

 distance from the hedges. The general colour is yellowish- 

 brown above, tinged with red on the head ; each feather 

 fringed with dark brown ; the under parts, pale yellowish- 

 grey ; the feet, yellowish-red ; iris, dusky brown ; the bill, 

 which is strong, brown and yellow. The bird is 1\ inches 

 long by 13 in extent of wings, but seems larger ; the female 

 similar, but less. 



The Yellow-Bunting, or Yellow-Hammer. 



(Emberiza Gitrinella.) Linn. 



" Their groves o' sweet myrtle let foreign lands reckon, 

 Where bright-beaming summers exalt their perfume ; 

 Far dearer to me yon lone glen o' green bracken, 



Wi' the burn stealing under the lang yellow broom." — Burns. 



This common but beautiful bird is found broadcast about St 

 Andrews, but rarer in the north, and not mentioned in the 

 fauna of the Orkneys. It is called the yellow-hammer, which 

 I think should be yellow-ammcr, for I don't see what such a 

 handsome, pretty bird has got to do with a hammer. In my 

 young days it was called yellow yowt, as a name of familiarity 

 — if not despite, for the eggs of this pretty, yellow painted 

 bird were considered the lawful prize of all nest-hunting 

 schoolboys, who used to play at periwinkle with them — that 

 is, placed them on the road, then each, blindfolded and armed 



