28 

 Emberiza citrinella. 



Yellow Bunting. 



LOCAL NAMES. EGG OBSERVED. 



Yelloiu Hammer. April 17tli, 1865. 



Yelloiv Ammer. April oOtli, 1866. 



May 4tli, 1867. 



April 15tli, 1868. 



April 24tli, 1869. 

 1870. 



Very convenient is the English name of this bird for 

 those unfortunate persons who are in the habit of misusing a 

 certain asperate, as from long use "Hammer" and "Ammer" 

 have become equally correct, though if, as is most probable, 

 it is derived from the German "Ammer," meaning "a 

 finch," the latter pronunciation is the right one. The 

 yellow hammer is as abundant here as it is in most localities 

 throughout England, living in small flocks in the winter, 

 and separating into pairs as soon as the breeding season 

 approaches. 



These birds are often very late breeders ; several instances 

 of their nests with fresh eggs being found quite in the 

 Autumn have occurred. One, mentioned by Mr. Bosworth 

 Smith, as follows : "A nest of this bird was found as late 

 as August 16th, 1858, in a small bush on the open ground, 

 inside the deer fence, on the path from the Forest to the 

 CoUeo-e." Another was taken on the 23rd of September, 

 1865, containing young birds. There is also another in- 

 stance mentioned in the report of the Marlborough College 

 Natural History Society, on September the 23rd, 1866. 



