THE ORTOLAN BUNTING. "5 



Although there can be little doubt that several of the Ortolans shot, captured, 

 or seen in Great Britain, have escaped from the poulterers shops, having been 

 imported from the Continent to supply the tables of the wealthy ; the fact that it 

 is a common species at no greater distance than the north of France, renders its 

 occasional visits to our coasts extremely probable. The first recorded instance of 

 its occurrence was that of an example caught in Marylebone Fields, and figured 

 by Brown in 1776, since which time somewhere about thirty specimens have been 

 either obtained or seen, mostly in various parts of Bngland ; about five being 

 recorded from Scotland, and one from Ireland. 



The adult male Ortolan Bunting has the head, nape, and upper breast greenish 

 grey ; eyelid whitish ; lores, a moustachial streak, the chin and fore-throat sulphur 

 yellow ; back, wing-coverts, and secondaries pale reddish-brown, with blackish 

 central streaks to the feathers ; lower back and rump with barely defined streaks ; 

 the remaining feathers of the wings and the tail brown, the three outer tail feathers 

 with large terminal patches of white on the inner webs ; lower breast, belly, and 

 under tail-coverts pale reddish brown ; beak vinous brown ; feet reddish clay- 

 coloured ; iris dark brown. The female is altogether duller and browner than the 

 male, the head greener and streaked with dark brown. Young birds nearly 

 resemble the female, but are yellower and more streaked below, and only have 

 white patches on the two outer pairs of tail-feathers. 



After the autumn moult the head and breast of this species are somewhat 

 greener, and the beak paler, more flesh-coloured. 



According to Hamilton, the Hindostani name for this bird is "Jamjohara." 



Respecting the habits of this bird when at liberty, Seebohm remarks :- " I 

 found the Ortolan Bunting breeding on the mountains in the pine-regions both 

 of Greece and Asia Minor. When I was at Valconswaard, we constantly heard its 

 plaintive monotonous song, as it sat perched for a long time on the branch of a 

 tree in the lanes, or in the hedges that surround the fields close to the village; 

 and in the wilder districts of Norway, when driving in our carioles from Lille- 

 hammer towards the Dovre Fjeld, it was by no means uncommon in the trees by 

 the roadside. It is not a shy bird, and frequently remains for a very long time 

 on the same twig, generally near the top of the tree, especially in the evening, 

 when its simple song harmonizes with the melancholy stillness of the outskirts of 

 the country village." 



The nest of the Ortolan is formed in the latter half of May, being placed 

 in a slight depression on the ground amongst herbage, under bushes, or in the 

 open fields. It is formed of dry grass strengthened with roots, and is lined with 

 rootlets and hair. The eggs number from four to six, and vary from pale lilac to 



