io6 BRITISH BIRDS, WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



nest more than half a dozen times during the seventeen successive years in which 

 I was an enthusiastic birds-nester ; but as I had a strong objection to trampling 

 down crops on the bare chance of discovering a nest, it is probable that I may 

 frequently have passed within a few yards of a nest of the Corn- Bun ting without 

 being aware of the fact. 



This is not a suitable bird for the Avicultiirist, being unpleasing in appearance 

 and voice, as well as voracious ; it is, therefore, rarely caged. It is, however, 

 possible that we underrate the vocal powers of this bird, for in the " Zoologist " for 

 1887, p. 300, the Rev. H. A. Macpherson proves that it has some capacity for 

 mimicking the notes of other species ; he says : " When birds-nesting on the Upper 

 Rhine, near Mulheim, I found the Corn-Bunting abundantly established on the 

 lower grounds. During great heat the males sang incessantly (their mates were 

 sitting) perching indifferently on the ground, on low bushes and rails, on the tops 

 of walnut trees, and on the telegraph wires. Their song seemed to be identical 

 with the dialect of those I had met with at home, with a single exception. On 

 June igth, a Corn-Bunting perching on a telegraph wire poured forth a liquid and 

 sweet song, embodying the notes of the Crested Lark, which latter species is 

 resident, though scarce, in that district. That the Reed Bunting has a good ear, 

 and can be trained to sing the Skylark's song I have recorded elsewhere, but I 

 never suspected the Corn-Bunting of a similar capacity." 



Family FRINGILLIDsE. Subfamily EMBERIZIN^. 



THE YELLOW BUNTING. 



Emberiza citrinella, LINN. 



T 



HE Yellow Aminer or Hammer, as this bird is generally called (from the 

 German name Goldammer, which means Golden Bunting)* is generally 



* Also locally known as Yellow Yorling or Yolclring. 



