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\' E 11 T E B li A T A , 



The Long-tailed Swamp-Sparrow, J. rontratus of Cassin, is six inches long; dull brown 

 above, beneath dull white; found in California. 



Genus Sl'lZA : Spiza. — This includes the Indigo-Bird, S. cyanca, five and a half inches long; 

 blue, with greenish tints; one of onr most beautiful i^uniiner visitors; feeds on caterpillars, worms, 

 gr:isshoj>pers, and seeds; the nest is usually on a low bush ; the eggs four to five, white. It 

 breeds in the United States; returns to Mexico and South America in winter. 



Other species are the Tainted Bunting, S. ciri><, five inches long; colors purplish-blue and yel- 

 lowish-green ; found in the Southern States, and the Lazuli Finch, S. amcena, five and a half 

 inches lono-; blue above and white beneath ; found on the Columbia River. 



THE EMBERIZIN^ OR BUNTINGS. 



These have a conical, acute bill ; wings of moderate size ; the hind toe larger than the inner 

 one and the claws slender. They are generally distributed in both hemispheres ; feed more on 

 the ground than the Fringilliiur?, and build their nests in low bushes or tufts of grass. Like the 

 finches, they collect in large flocks in the winter, and frequent the open fields. Their food con- 

 sists of seeds and insects. 



# 





THE OETOLAX OE GEEEX-HEADED BrXTIN'G. 



Genus EMBERIZA : Emleriza. — This includes the Ortolax or Green-headed Bunting — 

 Bruant Ortolan of the French — E. hortulana^ six and a quarter inches long; reddish-brown 

 above; beneath reddish-bufF; frequents light sandy soils; builds on the ground, and lays five to 

 six eggs. It is migratory, and breeds in the north of Europe ; in moving southward, about Au- 

 gust, great numbers are taken in England, France, Germany, <tc., in nets, and fattened lor the 

 table, they being esteemed a great luxury. To hasten this process, they are shut up in a room 

 artificially lighted, so as to offer no distinction between night and day, and fed with oats, millet, 

 and bread, mixed with spice. Booth says : "These birds are fed up till they become lumps of fat 

 of three ounces in weight, some of which are potted or otherwise preserved, and exported to other 

 countries." The ortolan is kept in cages on account of its handsome appearance and pleasing 



song. 



The Yellow Hammer of Europe — properly Yclloiv Ammer, the latter word signifying bunting 

 in the German — E. citrinella, is a handsome bird, seven inches long ; head, neck, and cheeks 

 lemon-yellow ; back and wings reddish-brown, tinged with yellow ; under surface of the body 

 bright lemon-vellow ; common throughout Europe, from the Mediterranean to Norway; in Eng- 



