ORTOLAN 



ORTOLAN BUNTING. 



PLATE LXXIX. FIGURE II. 

 Emberiza hortulana, ..... LINNAEUS. 



THE Ortolan Bunting which is a rare visitant, although 

 escaped birds from the poulterers are not unfrequently 

 seen, never nests in England, but is common in France 

 and Holland, where it builds in the latter part of May. 



The nest is placed in corn fields, and adapted to some 

 hollow in the ground, or the latter possibly to it ; Selby 

 adds thickets and low hedges as places of its nidification 

 also. It is formed of dry grass and small roots, thickly 

 lined with finer portions of the latter ; in some the inside 

 is finished with a few hairs. 



The eggs are four or five, sometimes, though rarely, 

 six in number ; they vary much in markings, being described 

 by Saunders as pale purplish grey, and by Seebohm as 

 bluish white varying to pale salmon colour : they are 

 spotted, streaked, or blotched with dark purple or black. 



END OF VOL. I. 



