Finches. 159 



or low down in a hedge, and among rank grass, and 

 the hen is said to be such an affectionate mother as 

 almost to allow herself to be touched before she will 

 leave her nest. 



The Yellow Ammer feeds on insects, small seeds, 

 and oats, and in captivity will not thrive without a 

 change of food, such as oats, bread crumbs, crushed 

 hemp-seed, bird-turnip, meat, or insects ; it will eat a 

 paste made of grated carrot, bread, and barley-meal; 

 but, being insectivorous as well as seed-eating, it must 

 have a mixture of animal and vegetable food. It is 

 fond of bathing, and likes to have some black earth 

 in its cage, of which it swallows a good deal. 



Its congeners, the Common or Corn Bunting, the 

 Ortolan, the Cirl and Reed Buntings, are occasionally 

 kept in aviaries, and would require much the same 

 food : they are all fond of the paste above mentioned, 

 and of oats and millet; indeed, the Ortolans are often 

 fatted as a delicacy for the table, upon these. None 

 of them are desirable cage birds. 



The GREENFINCH (Fringilla chloris) is often called 

 the Green Grosbeak or Green Linnet, but it is a large 

 bird with a big beak, and bears a much greater re- 

 semblance to the Grosbeaks than to the Linnets. It is 

 a handsome bird, but its natural song is harsh ; if 

 reared within hearing of a good songster of another 

 kind, however, it will frequently acquire its song. It 

 is remarkably docile, and is chiefly attractive as a cage 



