BUNTINGS. 



4i5 



Belgium. The adult male has the head grey, tinged with greenish yellow ; a ring 

 of feathers round the eyes and throat being pale citron-yellow ; the general 

 colour of the upper-parts is reddish brown with black streaks to the feathers of 

 the mantle and back ; the eyelid is white ; the fore-neck and chest are dusky 

 greenish olive, and the remainder of the under-parts is reddish cinnamon. 



The meadow - bunting (E. cia) is a lively member of the 

 family met with, locally, in many parts of Central Europe, living 

 chiefly in mountain- valleys such as those to be found in Central France. Each 

 pair generally occupies its own particular district, and, while the females incubate 

 their eggs, the males rehearse their songs, generally perching in a prominent 

 position on the top of some bush. The nest of the meadow-bunting is made of 



Meadow Bunting. 



\y. 



THE SPARROW- BUNTING. 



dry stalks and moss, lined with horsehair and wool. Mr. Dresser found this bird 

 numerous in the neighbourhood of Barcelona, where it frequented the cactus 

 hedges, flying when disturbed from plant to plant, and often perching on the very 

 top of the cacti, uttering its call-note, zi zi zi. Tins species chiefly affects the hill- 

 sides and barren dry places where but few stunted bushes are scattered about; 

 but in some parts of Europe it has been found frequenting the vineyards. It feeds 

 on various seeds of wild plants, and to some extent on insects. The eggs are easily 

 distinguished by their continuous markings, which appear as if they were made by 

 a pen without taking it from the surface of the egg. In colour they are pale grey, 

 marked with blackish brown lines. The adult male lias the head and neck bluish 

 grey, with two black bands along the sides of the crown, and two other black 

 bands passing through the eye, forming a moustache; while the upper-parts are 

 bright russet, streaked with black : the rump chestnut-red; the throat white; the 



