158 BRITISH BIRDS. 



points of distinction are alluded to in the article on that species. The 

 young birds are fed on similar food to those of the Yellow Hammer, prin- 

 cipally insects, and the observant Montagu remarks that the common 

 grasshopper is especially selected. By observing this fact he was enabled 

 to rear the ydung of this species ; and he remarks that when they could 

 peck, small seeds, especially canary-seed, were eaten, and that they greedily 

 devoured oats, shelling off the outer husk. 



The food of the Girl Bunting, like that of all the Finches, is composed of 

 insects and seeds ; it is said also to eat berries. Blyth found the remains of 

 beetles in its stomach, and in autumn it will eat grain. He also remarks 

 that in winter it will feed on almost all the smaller seeds, especially on those 

 of sorrel, whilst Mr. Blake Knox has remarked its preference for grass-seeds. 



In autumn and winter the Cirl Bunting becomes more or less gregarious. 

 Small flocks are sometimes seen in winter, and are repeatedly seen in the 

 company of other Buntings and Finches. At this season it wanders some- 

 what from its usual summer haunts. Although it is a southern species, 

 and a migratory bird in parts of Europe, as, for instance, in Germany, 

 where, Naumann says, it leaves in November and returns in April, in this 

 country it is a resident. In the severest winters it probably finds a 

 haunt congenial to it in the south-western counties of England, and 

 there, in company with other seed-eating birds, it frequents the stubbles 

 and the ploughed fields. Like the Yellow Hammer, this bird hops on 

 the ground, but occasionally walks or runs a few steps. It is by no means 

 shy, and when alarmed soon settles on the nearest bush. Its flight 

 resembles that of the Yellow Hammer, with which bird it is said often 

 to quarrel. 



The Cirl Bunting very closely resembles the Yellow Hammer. The 

 general colours of the upper parts of the adult male in breeding-plumage 

 are similar to those of that bird, except that the head and nape are olive- 

 green, the feathers of the former with a broad streak of black in the centre, 

 and the rump and upper tail-coverts are olive-geeeu streaked with dusky. 

 A bright yellow stripe extends over the eye, and another below it ; the lores 

 and a stripe extending behind the eye are dark brown. The wings and tail 

 are similar to those of the Yellow Hammer, but the lesser wing-coverts are 

 olive-green instead of chestnut. The throat, extending to the sides of 

 the neck, is dull black, below which is a broad patch of yellow ; across the 

 breast is an olive-green band shading into bright chestnut ; the remainder 

 of the underparts are bright yellow, duskier on the flanks, which are 

 streaked with brown. Bill brown above, pale horn-colour below ; legs, 

 feet, and claws brownish yellow ; irides hazel. The female is much duller 

 than the male, the head is browner, and the throat and breast are pale, 

 with dark streaks. She very closely resembles the female Yellow Hammer, 

 but may always be distinguished by the following characters : The head 



