118 FAMILIAR WILD PJI1DS. 



extreme north and south being 1 apparently not so congenial 

 to its taste. 



These birds are of sociable habits (although their inter- 

 course is perpetually interrupted by quarrels), and in winter 

 they associate in flocks with other small birds, such as 

 greenfinches, chaffinches &c., which frequent farm-yards 

 and stubble fields in search of food. 



The Yellow-Hammer often roosts on the ground, at 

 any rate in the summer, severe weather only compelling it 

 to take shelter in bushes, hedgerows, and similarly pro- 

 tected localities. 



About the middle of April the flocks disperse, and the 

 Yellow-Hammer seeks a mate and turns its attention to 

 family duties. Generally the nest is placed' near the 

 ground on a bank, and frequently in a tuft of coarse grass 

 or herbage. It is built of moss, fine fibrous roots, and 

 small twigs, and neatly lined with horse-hair. Four or five 

 eggs are laid, of a pale purplish-white colour, streaked, 

 spotted and blotched with dark reddish-brown ; occa- 

 sionally the eggs may be found of a more reddish tint, with 

 dark brown streaks and blotches ; they also vary considera- 

 bly in size. 



The young make their appearance about the beginning 

 of June, and are most carefully attended to by their parents, 

 the male bird being especially noticeable for the assiduity 

 and anxiety he evinces for the comfort of his mate and 

 progeny. 



The food principally consists of grain, seeds of various 

 sorts, and insects ; the latter it feeds its young almost 

 entirely upon. The first-mentioned item being its favourite 

 diet, it is naturally not regarded by farmers with any 

 great degree of complacency or friendliness. 



