Coti-B(7NTiMG. INSESSORES. EMBERIZA. 293 



the Linnean Society ; as well as to the account given of it in 

 the Ornithological Dictionary and Supplement of the same 

 author. Its habits and manners seem nearest allied to the 

 Yellow- Hammer, with which bird it frequently associates in 

 winter ; and its run of notes is similar, but shorter, and not 

 quite so shrill. It places its nest in a furze or other low bushiest, &c. 

 very near to the ground ; this is composed of the dry stalks 

 of grasses, intermingled with fibres of root, and moss, and 

 lined with hair, and contains four or five eggs, very like those 

 of the Yellow-Hammer, but rather less ; being of a greyish- 

 white, marked with waving lines, frequently ending in spots 

 of a reddish-brown, or chocolate colour. The food of this Food. 

 species consists of grain and other seeds, as well as insects, 

 which indeed appear to form its principal support during the 

 summer. MONTAGU tells us that this diet was most accept- 

 able to the young birds he reared, and that the common 

 grasshopper was their favourite morsel. After they could 

 peck, the smaller seeds and oats were in request, but wheat 

 and barley were invariably refused. 



According to the continental authors, the Girl-Bunting is 

 abundant in the warmer parts of France, in Italy, and on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean ; but does not inhabit the 

 colder regions. 



PLATE 52. Fig. 4. A male bird of the natural size. 



Above and below the eye is a streak of primrose-yellow. General 

 Crown of the head yellowish-grey, with the centres of t i on . 

 the feathers black. Neck and lower part of the breast 

 yellowish-grey, inclining to olive-green. Throat, and 

 streak before and behind the eye, blackish-green. Up- 

 per part of the breast, or gorget, primrose-yellow. 

 Feathers upon the back blackish-brown, passing into 

 orange-brown, and edged with greyish-white. Scapu- 

 lars reddish orange, edged with v el lo wish-white. Quills 

 greenish -grey, edged with primrose-yellow. Belly and 

 sides primrose-yellow, the latter varied with reddish- 



