PECULIAR HABITS. 199 



cords that a female of this species deposited its eggs on the 

 bare ground in June, and sat on them until they were 

 hatched. Bishop Mant says 



Low in the garden's thorny bound, 

 Or under, on the shelving mound, 

 'Mid waving bent grass, or the bloom 

 Of blossomed furze, her humble home 

 The Yellow Bunting plants. 



The male, whose song is heard in spring and summer, 

 but particularly during warm sunny days in June, is re- 

 markable for his attention to the female, taking his turn 

 upon the eggs during the period of incubation ; Mr. Wood 

 mentions having heard him sing while thus engaged. 



Macgillivray says that these Buntings evince much anxiety 

 about their charge, and when deprived of their eggs or 

 young, continue some days about the place, chaunting at 

 intervals their dolorous ditty, which, although unaltered in 

 its notes, must doubtless be meant as an expression of 

 grief. In some parts of Scotland it is interpreted as signi- 

 fying c Deil, deil, deil-take-ye ! ' that is, the cruel nesters ; 

 and for this reason probably the Yellow Bunting is named 

 the Devil's-bird. 



When perched on a tree, especially in windy weather, 

 they crouch close to the twigs, draw in their neck, and 

 keep the tail declined. After pairing, the male is fre- 

 quently seen on a bush or tree, moving his tail by sudden 

 jerks, by which it is raised, and at the same time slightly 

 expanded. His notes are then usually two chirps, followed 

 by a harsher note : chit, chit, chirr, with considerable inter- 

 vals. When feeding on the stubble fields, they advance 

 by very short leaps, with their breasts nearly touching the 

 ground ; when apprehensive of danger, crouch motionless, 

 and when alarmed give intimation to each other by means 

 of their ordinary short note. They are generally more 

 shy than Chaffinches, but less so than the Corn Buntings. 

 Their food consists of seeds of the cereal plants, especially 

 oats, grasses, chickweed, and others. In hard weather 

 they may often be seen on the roads picking insects out of 

 horsedung, and in summer they also eat insects and larvae. 



