THE YELLOW BUNTING. 165 



Yellow Bunting's food in the summer months. They 

 will bring to their nest a caterpillar or insect every few 

 minutes ; and when we bear in mind that their young are 

 fed twelve hours a day at least, the quantity of insects 

 consumed even by one family of birds is amazing. At 

 other times of the year seeds form their chief support ; 

 but though they are seen feeding on the newly sown 

 lands in company with the Rook, we must not forget 

 that seeds of noxious plants, both to farmer and gardener, 

 are consumed. Though we see them feeding on the seed- 

 beds in the gardens, we must bear in mind that if they 

 do take a few of the seeds they are one of the chief 

 guardians of what is left. 



In the winter months the Yellow Bunting is seen on 

 the naked hedgerows and surrounding fields, searching 

 for sustenance in company with the Chaffinch, the 

 Greenfinch, and the Rook. When disturbed, instead of 

 rising simultaneously like Rooks or Starlings, they fly 

 off in little parties, or even singly, and after wheeling 

 about in the air in jerking flight, finally settle on the neigh- 

 bouring trees or hedgerows, and wait until the danger 

 is passed, when one by one, or in little parties, they return 

 to their food-seeking labours. In the keenest weather, 

 when the lands lie inches deep in snow, and the hedge- 

 rows are decked in dazzling whiteness, you see the Bunt- 

 ings, gregarious at this season, in the farmyards, clinging 

 to the corn-stacks, or picking a scanty sustenance from 

 the manure heaps, in company with the Chaffinch, the 

 Dunnock, and Cock Robin. You also see them hopping 

 round the barn door, or fluttering round the threshing 

 floor, showing no alarm for the sturdy blows of the flail. 

 Hunger is a stern command, and even the most shy and 

 timid birds must bow before it. The Yellow Bunting is 

 very probably a migratory bird, for in the winter months 



