FRINGILLID^E. 99 



materials to that of the Yellow Bunting, is commonly placed 

 in a furze-bush. The eggs are four or five in number, and 

 considerably resemble those of the last species. 



THE OETOLAN BUNTING. Emberiza hortulana. This is 

 a bird of rare occurrence in Britain, but ranges over the 

 European continent, and is there abundant in some parts. 

 Northern Africa is said to be its winter residence, and in 

 its migrations it visits Gibraltar every spring and autumn. 

 Its manners are described as resembling those of the Yellow 

 Hammer, and its nest, built on the ground in cornfields, or 

 in the covert of hedges or bushes, is constructed of dry 

 grass and roots, lined with fine roots and hair. The eggs, 

 with which we are not at present familiar, are four or five 

 in number, and differ greatly in the individual specimens, 

 sometimes, as Mr. Hewitson states, resembling those of the 

 Eeed Bunting, and at others those of the Yellow Hammer. 



THE EEED BUNTING. Emberiza sckwniculus. The Reed 

 or Black-headed Bunting frequents marshy places, among 

 willow-beds, reeds, and aquatic herbage. It is common 

 throughout the British Islands, and generally distributed on 

 the European continent. Its nest is not, like that of the 

 Eeed Warbler, suspended between the stems of reeds, but 

 is built in a low bush, on a tuft of grass, or among the 



