174 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



young are hatched, their watchfulness and care 

 seem to increase. There are two or three cases 

 recorded of the sky-lark moving its eggs, and 

 even the young birds, under the fear of danger. 

 Though living in pairs during summer, they are 

 gregarious in winter, assembling in vast flocks, and 

 feeding on the ground. They are then in excel- 

 lent condition ; whereas in summer they are lean. 



The BUNTINGS are a numerous race of birds, with 

 which every one is familiar. There are seven 

 British species : the Lapland bunting, the snow 

 bunting, the common bunting, the reed bunting, 

 the yellow bunting, the cirl bunting, and the 

 ortolan bunting. Of these the yellow, the com- 

 mon, and the reed bunting, are the most generally 

 diffused. They are marked by having very strong 

 beaks ; so formed as to be well-fitted for breaking 

 the shells, or rinds of seeds. The upper bill has a 

 hard, bony knob. They live principally on giain 

 and seeds, but also eat insects. These birds have 

 plenty of voice, but no song ; and are always very 

 active in the heat of the day, keeping up an inces- 

 sant, though harsh and tuneless, chattering. 



The YELLOW BUNTING, or yellow-hammer, is one 

 of our most common birds, as well as one of the 

 handsomest; attracting the eye by its brilliant 

 plumage, the fine lemon -yellow colour of the 



