SPECIES 3. EMBERIZA QRYZIVQRA. 



RICE BUNTING. 

 [Plate XII. Figs. 1 and 2.] 



Emberiza oryzivora, LINN. Syst. p. 311, 16. Le Ortolan de la 



Caroline, BRISS. Orn. in, p. 282, 8, pi. 15, fig. 3. P/. JSn/. 388, 



fig. 1. L'Jlgripenne, ou V Ortolan de Riz. BUFF. Ois. iv, p. 



337. Bice-bird, CATESB. Car. i, pi. 14. EWD. ^/. 2. LATHAM 



n, jp. 188, JVo. 25. -PEALE'S Museum, JVo. 6026. 



THIS is the Boblirik of the eastern and northern states, and 

 the 7?ice and Reed-bird of Pennsylvania and the southern states. 

 Though small in size, he is not so in consequence; his coming is 

 hailed by the sportsman with pleasure; while the careful planter 

 looks upon him as a devouring scourge, and worse than a plague 

 of locusts. Three good qualities, however, entitle him to our no- 

 tice, particularly as these three are rarely found in the same in- 

 dividual ; his plumage is beautiful, his song highly musical, 

 and his flesh excellent. I might also add, that the immense range 

 of his migrations, and the havoc he commits are not the least 

 interesting parts of his history. 



The winter residence of this species I suppose to be from 

 Mexico to the mouth of the Amazon, from whence in hosts innu- 

 merable he regularly issues every spring, perhaps to both hemi- 

 spheres, extending his migrations northerly as far as the banks 

 of the Illinois and the shores of the St. Lawrence. Could the 

 fact be ascertained, which has been asserted by some writers, 

 that the emigration of these birds was altogether unknown in this 

 part of the continent, previous to the introduction office plan- 

 tations, it would certainly be interesting. Yet, why should these 

 migrations reach at least a thousand miles beyond those places 

 where rice is now planted; and this not in occasional excursions, 



