Buntings. 3';JJ. 



BUNTINGS. 



The Yellow Bunting, or Yellow-hammer, is a somewhat common bird, of handsome 

 plumage but indifferent song, which consists of one note repeated several times, and two lower 

 prolonged notes of not very pleasing tone. It frequents small thickets and hedgerows, generally 

 building its nest under shelter of some small bush in a hedge-bottom or amongst the grass of a 

 ditch. It feeds principally upon seeds, small grains, and insects, and in the summer-time is one 

 of the most attractive of British birds, flitting from bush to bush, and displaying to marked 

 advantage the bright lemon-yellow on its breast and head, and the rich chestnut-brown on the 

 back and upper tail-coverts. It is certainly a desirable addition to an aviary. The one now 

 in our own, where its very handsome plumage ranks second to none, has been kept there for 

 three years. This one feeds upon the general food supplied, nothing seeming to come amiss to 

 it; whilst others confined in cages invariably have shown a marked preference for canary-seed, 

 also eating oats and grass-seed, upon which food they thrive. If they will eat other seeds, they 

 may be given by way of variation. The particular characteristic of the Bunting tribe is the 

 possession of a hard palatine knob or tooth in the upper mandible, which is especially adapted 

 for breaking and shelling seeds and grain. They will breed in confinement, and in addition 

 to the ordinary nest-bag should be given a supply of dried bents of grass and fine roots. 

 The young are easily reared; they should be fed upon sifted ground oats ("fig-dust") mixed 

 into a stiff paste with scraped beef and egg. 



The Cirl Bunting is a bird that is very little known in England except to ornithologists, 

 especially as it closely resembles the Yellow-hammer when wild. Its great distinctions from 

 that bird are a black throat, the head and neck are shaded with bluish-grey, and the lower 

 part of the back and upper tail-coverts are olive-green. The female, not having the black throat, 

 has often been mistaken for the Yellow-hammer ; but the latter has a chestnut-brown rump, 

 whilst the hen of the Cirl Bunting has olive-green, by which feature they may always be distin- 

 guished. As with the Yellow-hammer, its song is not very elaborate, consisting also of one note 

 rather more rapidly delivered and without the prolonged finishing note. The Cirl Bunting is 

 somewhat shy, although often approaching habitations to build its nest. If in confinement it 

 shows an inclination to build, treat as for the Yellow-hammer. When wild it frequents grass 

 fields, the seeds of which form their staple food ; when in confinement it should be fed and treated 

 as advised for the Yellow-hammer. 



The Blackheaded Bunting is another very handsome bird, having in the summer-time 

 a jet-black head and throat, with a band or collar of white round the neck and down to the 

 breast. In winter the plumage is less brilliant, and the hen has not these striking characteristics- 

 This bird is generally to be found near water, and adjacent thereto builds its nest, often selecting 

 the edge of a reed-bed or the side of a ditch. The food when wild consists of the seeds of 

 reeds and aquatic plants, and also of insects. It is a very attractive addition to the aviary, where 

 it should be given plenty of water, being remarkably fond of bathing. It also is a good cage- 

 bird, and should be fed and treated as the Yellow-hammer. 



The Common Bunting is a thick-set bird, rather larger than the rest of the true Buntings, 

 of plain plumage and little song, which is harsh and unmusical. It is a common bird, feeding 

 principally on grains and seed, for breaking or shelling which the hard knob or tooth in the 



