THE BLACK BONNET, OR REED BUNTING. 121 



the latter seems to agree with them best, particularly if they have a grated 

 and quiet place to rest in and pass the night. 



FOOD. When wild, these birds, like others of the genus, feed on insects 

 and grain. 



In the House they may be fed on the same food as the ortolan, on which 

 they may be preserved in health above six years, as 1 have proved by a pair 

 which I kept myself for that time. 



MODE OF TAKING. These birds come without difficulty at the call of 

 the yellowhammer, and enter into every kind of snare so heedlessly, that 

 they have thence been given the name of foolish bunting. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. They are very fine and lively birds, whose 

 voice is heard the whole year ; in winter their note of call, and from spring 

 to autumn, their cheerful song, shorter indeed, but clearer than that of the 

 yellowhammer. They live very amicably in a room with other species of 

 their genus, especially the yellowhammer ; and where one goes the other 

 follows, and if one chooses any particular food, the other prefers the same. 



THE BLACK BONNET, OR REED BUNTING. 



Ernberiza Schceniclus, LINNJEUS ; L'Ortolan de Roseaux, BCFFON ; Rohrammer, 

 BECHSTEIN. 



THIS bird is nearly the size of the mountain sparrow, its 

 length being five inches three-quarters, of which the tail mea- 



