THE FOOLISH BTTNTING. 223 



the eyes, and unites with a third of similar colour, which be- 

 gins at the lower corner of the beak, and encircles the cheeks. 

 The back is brownish red, spotted with black ; the rump a 

 light reddish brown. The throat is light grey ; the rest of 

 the lower part of the body rust-colour, which is lightest on the 

 belly. The lesser wing coverts are dark grey ; the other fea- 

 thers of the wings chiefly black ; the foremost pen feathers 

 are, however, edged with red ; and the rest, as well as the 

 lower coverts, have a broad margin of rust colour. The 

 second row of coverts is tipped with reddish white, which 

 produces a stripe of similar colour on the wings. The tail is 

 black, and somewhat forked ; the two outer feathers have a 

 white wedge-shaped spot on the inner plume, and the two 

 centre ones are tipped and bordered with dark rust colour. 



The female is hardly distinguishable from the male. Her 

 head is grey, tinged with red, and spotted with black ; it is also 

 marked like that of the male, but the streaks are less distinct, 

 and are either dirty white or dark brown. The grey of the 

 throat is also tinged with red, and streaked with black, and the 

 under part of the body is in general lighter than that of the 

 male. 



Habitat. This bird is fond of solitude, and is found through- 

 out the mountain districts of the south of France, Italy, and 

 Austria. During some winters it leaves these countries, and 

 in March and April has been caught among the mountains of 

 Central Germany. 



In confinement it may either be kept in a cage, or allowed to 

 range the room ; the latter method of treatment seems to suit 

 it best, especially if a corner be protected by a grating, in 

 which it can take refuge and pass the night. 



Food. In a wild state it feeds, like most birds of its spe- 

 cies, on seeds and insects. In confinement it thrives on the 

 food already prescribed for the Ortolan. A pair in my posses- 

 sion have thus been preserved in health for six years. 



Mode of Taking. This bird may easily be decoyed, by help 

 of a Yellowhammer, to the lime-bush and barn-floor trap ; 

 and, indeed, has received its name from its want of caution in 

 regard to nets and springes. 



Attractive Qualities. The Foolish Buntings are handsome, 

 lively birds. Throughout the winter their clear call, Tze, tze ! 

 is heard without intermission ; and from spring to autumn, their 



