154 MEADOW BUNTING. 



Its call-note is a short sharp f zi-zi-zi,' which sometimes sounds like 

 'zip,' and hence its German name. The song of the male is very 

 similar to that of the Yellowhammer, but shorter and clearer. Bechstein 

 expresses its note as 'zi-zi-zi-zirr-zirr,' others as 'zip-zip-zip-zai-zip-zip- 

 zip-zi.' It is a diligent songster, and often sits upon the top of a 

 rather low tree or bush. When kept in confinement the Meadow 

 Bunting is sometimes heard to sing at night. It is a pleasant bird in 

 a room, and soon becomes very domestic, and may be kept for several 

 years. Bechstein had a pair which he kept for several years. They 

 are very affectionate to each other, and live sociably with different 

 birds in confinement, preferring the Yellowhammer. 



The Meadow Bunting feeds upon insects, grass seeds, oats, and 

 millet seeds. It will also eat hemp and poppy seed, and in confinement 

 become quite content and healthy on this food, with the addition of a 

 little bread soaked in milk; as a treat nothing so welcome as ants' 

 eggs or a mealworm. 



Naumann further remarks that they breed certainly in Germany, 

 in Austria more frequently, but in Italy plentifully. The nest he 

 describes as like that of the Yellowhammer, and the eggs similar to 

 those of that bird, but they may be readily distinguished from both 

 it and every other Bunting. They are roundish, short, and oval; 

 dirty or greyish white, with many reddish and rust-brown streaks 

 and hairs marked upon them. There are also shorter streaks, 

 which the other Buntings have not. Brehm, in his description of 

 the egg in Badeker's work upon European eggs, says, "It prefers 

 high meadows, where it is found among the short bushes in the 

 neighbourhood of vineyards. It does not often build on the Rhine. 

 Its nest is placed among the crevices of the artificial fences which 

 surround the mountain vineyards, and generally contains four eggs, 

 which have a grey whitish ground; shewing through it, brown, black, 

 and grey lines, which often form a zone round the middle of the 

 egg. These lines are connected together and form peculiar markings, 

 by which they can be readily distinguished from any of the varieties 

 of the Yellowhammer. Rarely they are marked with points, or round 

 spots placed solitarily. They breed twice. The young birds are 

 similar to those of the Yellowhammer, and, like them, are frequently 

 bred in confinement." 



Savi says it is doubtful if they breed in Tuscany, but they do so 

 freely in the ultramontane countries. Their nest, which is placed in 

 low bushes, is made of moss externally, and with root filaments and 

 wool internally. Eggs four or five, with irregular zigzag lines and 

 spots of black or dark violet-colour. 



