THE YELLOW BUNTING. 253 



well-known summer song of tliis bird rings out 

 from every wayside, consisting of one note re- 

 peated five or six times, and two others, the last 

 much lengthened. Some little variation occurs in 

 this strain, and Mr. Main remarks that the cow- 

 boys find in the yellow ammer's song the follow- 

 ing words, " A lit-tle bit of bread, but no cheese." 

 White of Selbome remarked of the bunting that 

 it persists in singing after Midsummer ^vith more 

 steadiness than any other bird. 



The nest of this yellow ammer, well made of 

 moss, roots, and hair, is usually placed in the grass- 

 covered bank of a ditch or stream, or under a 

 bush on the gi'ound. The eggs are of a pale 

 purplish white, marked with dark reddish brown. 

 The bird is a favourite delicacy in Italy, and 

 is caught and fattened for the table with the 

 ortolan. One of the Italian names for another 

 species, the green-headed bunting, is Hortolano, 

 and this species is also sometimes called the 

 English ortolan. 



In winter the yellow buntings assemble in 

 flocks witli several of the finch tribe, and hunt in 

 the fann-yards for grain, seeds, or insects. It is 

 common in every part of our country. 



