CXXVI. 

 EMBEllIZA IIORTULANA. 



Ortolan IU'ntinc;. 



In Italy, Gennany, and various ])arts of the Continent, the 

 Ortolan Bunting is an abundant species. I am fortunate in 

 being able to give some account of it from an eye-witness 

 of its habits. The liberality of Mr. Hoy has also furnished 

 me with the nests and several beautiful varieties of the eggs, 

 from which the figures are drawn ; each the rejiresentative 

 of a different nest. The Ortolan Bunting begins to build 

 early in May ; it places its nest almost invariably in the 

 com, preferring rye to other kinds ; indeed it is partial to 

 light sandy soils, where rye is much cultivated. The 

 nest is placed in some little hollow in the ground, in tlie 

 manner of that of the Skylark ; it is formed of dry grass 

 and roots, thickly lined towards the interior with very fine 

 roots ; in some the inside is finished with a few hairs. The 

 eggs are four or five, sometimes, though rarely, six in number. 

 As will be seen by the plate, they resemble a good deal 

 those of the Yellow and Black-headed Bimtings. Mr. Hoy 

 adds, " I have never found them breeding except amongst 

 corn. The male is almost incessant in his monotonous song 

 during the pairing season : it much resembles others of the 

 tribe, having some resemblance to that of the Cirl as well as 

 the Reed Bunting." 



