86 FRINGILLIDJE. 



GENUS XLI EMBERIZA (BUNTING). 



SPECIES 82 THE COMMON BUNTING. 



Emberiza miliaria. Linn. 

 Bruant proyer. Temm. 



Bush Lark. Hornbill Bunting. 



THIS species, although denominated common, occurs in much 

 less numbers than the yellow bunting, and appears from its 

 habits to be well known in those localities which it frequents. 



About Dublin the shore districts near Malahide appear a 

 locality where they exist in the greatest numbers. Dull in 

 habits as it is in plumage, the common bunting sits motion- 

 less on the topmost twig of the hedgerow, uttering at inter- 

 vals its protracted and melancholy call-note, and, possessed 

 of a determined pertinacy, it will remain for hours without 

 the slightest change either in attitude or song. A habit pecu- 

 liar to this species, we observe a curious dangling of the legs 

 when flying off from its perch, the bunting rising a few feet 

 in the air, with the tarsi hanging out in such a heavy, stiff 

 manner as at once to remind us of the heron. 



The breeding localities most favoured by the common 

 bunting about the eastern coast appear to be potato fields, 

 and occasionally meadow lands. 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 83 THE YELLOW BUNTING. 



Emberiza citrinella. Linn. 



Bruant jaune. Temm. 



Yellowhammer. 



THE YELLOW BUNTING, or YELLOWHAMMER, as it is most 

 commonly denominated, occurs plentifully, and is one of those 

 well-known species, like the lark and chaffinch, which do not 

 require the pen of the ornithologist to point out their specific 

 distinctions. Smaller in size than the preceding, it is also more 

 beautiful in its markings, and possesses in an eminent degree 

 the same unchanging, lugubrious strain. 



A curious habit of the yellowhammer is the exact regularity 

 with which it utters, at a certain hour during the day, its few 

 mournful notes. Thus, we might say, the hour of three in 

 the afternoon exercises quite a magic influence on the yellow 

 bunting ; for, no matter how situated, it will at once com- 

 mence its changeless and interminable chant. 



