382 THE YELLOW-BUNTING, OR YELLOW-HAMMER. 



examined the scraped out hollow ; the top was slightly below 

 the surface, as if the bird intended to baffle the scythe. It was 

 composed of roots and grass, lined with horse hair. It was 4|- 

 inches in diameter, and 2J deep over all, and 2£ by If deep 

 inside. On May 16th, same year, I got a nest with one egg on a 

 wall pear tree four feet up. The frame was very bulky, bigger 

 than a mavis's, but the inside usual size — showing a tree was not 

 the usual place. But as this bird forms the link between the 

 larks and finches, it shows that Humboldt was right in saying 

 the universe was governed by universal law, not by a capricious 

 Deity — even in the building of birds' nests, each after its kind, 

 and instinct illustrates this better than multitudinous-minded 

 reason. On May 27th, 1885, I got another on the branch of an 

 apple wall tree in the same garden, with five deep-sitten eggs, 

 44 feet from the ground, made of hemlock stems, roots, and 

 grass, lined with fine grass and hair, loosely but finely formed 

 — the thickest stems at the base, then finer till mingled with 

 hair inside. Some of the stems were 18 inches long by J inch 

 thick ; no barley, wheat, or oat straws — these apparently 

 avoided. It was near a mavis's nest, also in a wall tree five feet 

 up, with five fresh eggs. It was nearly as large as the thrush's, 

 6 by 3 inches outside, and 2-1- by lh inside. I got another, 

 same day, in a garden at the Swilcan Burn, three feet up in a 

 berry bush, but the usual place is herbage. Like the corn- 

 bunting, food chiefly grain and farinaceous seeds. In winter 

 they collect in flocks, and often mingle with linnets, finches, 

 and sparrows. Amongst stubble they move by very short leaps, 

 with their breast near the ground ; when disturbed, crouch 

 motionless. The sky-lark has the same habit. They are shyer 

 than chaffinches and others they associate with. When perched 

 on a tree in windy weather they crouch close, draw in their 

 neck, and depress their tail, as if afraid of falling. They do not 

 run with the same ease as snow-buntings, wagtails, larks, or 

 pipits. Their flight is rapid and undulating ; one peculiarity is 

 the speed and unerring certainty with which they descend from 

 a height to settle on a particular twig that arrested their 

 attention. If there is a flock the dexterity by which they all 

 perch abruptly, with outspread tail to stay their rapid descent 

 on their respective twigs is remarkable. In April they select 

 their partners with less ado than most birds, and quietly set 

 about their domestic duties. The general colour of the male is 

 bright yellow, varied with olive green, and a line of brown on 

 each side of the head. The breast and sides, back, and wing 



