212 THE MOUNTAIN BUNTING. 



90. THE MOUNTAIN BUNTING. 



Emberiza Montana, LIN. Ortolan de Montagne, Bur. Der Bergammer, 



BECH. 



Description. This bird is somewhat smaller than the pre- 

 ceding. The beak is short, strong, and yellow, with a black 

 tip. The head is almost four-cornered ; the frontal band is 

 light chestnut; the back of the head and the cheeks still 

 lighter. The nape of the neck and the back are ash-coloured, the 

 latter being spotted with black, in which respect it resembles 

 the female Yellowhammer. The throat is white ; the breast 

 and the region of the eyes a rusty red. Over the first is a 

 brownish red stripe, which shows itself in young birds only, 

 as an indistinct mark. The wing coverts are blackish grey, 

 the larger ones being edged with white. The five first pen 

 feathers are blackish brown ; the rest white, and the points of 

 all striped with brown. The three exterior pen feathers are 

 white, the rest dark brown ; the feet are black. 



In the female, the head is mottled with black, reddish yel- 

 low, and white ; the back of the neck is reddish yellow, tinged 

 with grey ; the belly the same colour, inclining to white. 



Observations. This handsome bird inhabits Northern Europe, 

 but is by no means common. In Thuringia, as well as in 

 other parts of Germany, especially after stormy weather and 

 deep snow, it may often be met on its return northwards, in 

 March. A pair are generally seen together, on the highways 

 and paths, seeking plantain seed and grains of corn in the 

 horsedung. It has a clear voice, and its song, though inter- 

 rupted, like the Yellowhammer, is not disagreeable. Its call 

 is " Twerr! Tzoerrf" When confined either in an aviary or 

 a cage, it thrives on bread, oats, poppy and hemp seed. At 

 night, especially in pairing time, it is, like the Snow Bunting, 

 very uneasy, and utters its call, however dark it may be. 



Some individuals of this species are occasionally met with, 

 which are reddish grey on the upper part of the body, yellow- 

 ish on the head, and spotted with dark brown on the back. 

 These are young birds. 



The Mountain Bunting may be caught in the same manner 

 as the preceding species. 



