168 THE SMALLER BRITISH BIRDS. 



Montagu states that "having taken the young of the Girl Bunting, 

 it was found that insects were their most partial food, especially the 

 common grasshopper. When they could peck, the smaller seeds were 

 acceptable, and canary the favourite; of grain, wheat and barley were 

 rejected, but oats were greedily devoured, after they had dexterously 

 and quickly deprived them of their outer coat." 



The Ortolan Bunting is so rarely obtained in this country that it 

 be superfluous to describe its treatment in confinement. 



