196 THE CORN BUNTING. 



THE CORN BUNTING (Emberiza milliaria), is remarkably 

 full and robust of form. It has a large head, and short, 

 stout bill, characteristic of the Deglubitrices, or Huskers, to 

 which order all these birds belong. The length of this 

 species is about seven inches and a quarter. In the colour 

 of its plumage it closely resembles the Field Lark, having 

 the upper parts light yellowish brown, shaded with blackish 

 brown ; the lower parts pale yellowish grey, each feather 

 of the foreneck being tipped with a triangular spot of dark 

 brown, so as to give it a mottled appearance. 



This is the commonest of the British species, being a per- 

 manent resident, and generally distributed, although it is much 

 rarer in some districts than others. It is a hardy bird, and 

 abounds in some of the Scottish Isles, especially the Heb- 

 rides, where it is generally known as the Sparrow. Its food 

 consists of the seeds of grasses and other plants, the various 

 kinds of grain, and some insects, especially beetles. It 

 frequents open pastures, grass and corn land, and keeps 

 pretty closely within the limits of cultivation, being seldom 

 found on the wild moors or hill-sides. 



These Buntings begin to build towards the end of April. 

 The nest is composed of dry stalks and blades of grass, with 

 a lining of fibrous roots and leaves. It is placed on the 

 ground beside a strong tuft of grass or other plant, under a 

 bush, and sometimes in an open pasture, or cultivated field. 

 The eggs are four or five in number, about ten and a half 

 twelfths of an inch long, greyish or purplish white, marked 

 with spots and dots, and curved streaks of blackish brown 

 and greyish purple. When the breeding season is over 

 these birds collect together in small flocks, and as autumn 

 advances they may be found in the stubble field searching for 

 the scattered grain and seeds of various kinds. i Frequently 

 at this season they sit close, like the Larks, and will allow 

 a person to approach very near before they fly off; but for 

 the most part they are shy, and not easily approached. In 

 winter, especially in cold or boisterous weather, they appear 

 near houses, and mingle in the stackyards with Sparrows, 

 Yellow Buntings, Larks, and other small birds; but they are 

 not so gregarious as those species, and are very seldom met 

 with in large flocks. Their flight is strong, capable of being 



