148 



ORTOLAN. 



ORTOLAN BUNTING. 



PLATE LXXIX. FIG. II. 



Emheriza liortulana, . . LiNNiEUS. Latham. 



" "... Selby. Jenyns. Gould. 



Hmheriza chlorocephala, . . Montagu. Bewick. 



JEmberiza Tunstalli, , . Latham. 



The Ortolan Bunting begins to build early in May. 



The nest is placed in coi*n-fields, and adapted to some 

 hollow in the ground, or the latter possibly to it; Selby 

 adds thickets and low hedges as places of its nidification 

 also. It is formed of dry grass and small roots, thickly 

 lined with finer portions of the latter; in some the inside 

 is finished with a few hairs. 



The eggs are four or five, sometimes, though rarely, 

 six in number: they vary much in markings. 



Professor Thieneman figures four, one of a pale dull 

 bluish grey, with a few dark brown marks; a second 

 with a tinge of red, and the marks principally agglo- 

 merated at the larger end; a third of a yellowish cast, 

 with dark marks and streaks, chiefly at the thicker 

 end; and a fourth of a dull bluish hue, marbled all 

 over with different shades of brown. 



