CIEL BUNTING. 45 



habits, the sheep-walks on the southern heights may impede 

 their progress to the countries farther to the north, and they 

 cannot be expected on the mountains.' 



These birds may be easily kept, if brought up from the 

 nest. They seem to be rather more shy than the Yellow 

 Buntings, and are fond of perching on the summits of trees: 

 as recorded of the other species, they also feign lameness, to 

 entice strangers from a too near approach to their nest. They 

 seem to have a partiality for elm trees, in preference to any 

 others; but if the present mania for cutting down hedge-row 

 timber continues, under the plea of 'agricultural improvement,' 

 we bid fair to have neither elm trees, nor any other trees 

 left for a bird to perch on; and what will become of the 

 most beautiful feature of the English landscape? 



They feed principally on berries, seeds, and grain, and also 

 on caterpillars, beetles, and other insects. 



The note is generally delivered from the top of a tall tree, 

 and the female is more deficient in vocal powers than the 

 male, though neither of them excel in this respect. They 

 continue in full song, such as it is, until the middle or end 

 of August, or until the period of the autumnal moult, which 

 takes place about that time. Their monotonous lay is reiterated 

 at brief intervals, and is uttered, at least a portion of it, 

 while on the wing, as well as when perched. 



The Girl Buntings pair in April, and nidification commences 

 about the beginning of May. 



The nest is placed in furze or low bushes, and is usually 

 made of dry stalks of grass and a little moss, lined with hair 

 and small roots; some are wholly without moss or hair, and 

 are composed entirely of the other materials, the small roots 

 constituting the lining. II. A. Julian, Esq., Jun., has known 

 one containing four eggs, which he met with in July, 1850, 

 in a steep bank: it may have been a second one of the 

 year. 



The eggs are four or five in number, of a dull bluish white, 

 distinctly streaked and speckled with dark brown: they vary 

 much in colour and markings. The young are hatched in 

 about a fortnight. 



Male; weight, about seven drachms; length, six inches and 

 not quite a half; bill, bluish lead-colour above, paler beneath; 

 iris, dark brown: over it is a patch or streak of bright yellow, 

 coming round and forming a gorget beneath the black on 

 the throat, and a dark streak of blackish green passes, as it 



