THE ORTOLAN BUNTING. 115, 
Although there can be little doubt that several of the Ortolans shot, captured, 
or seen in Great Britain, have escaped from the poulterers shops, having been 
imported from the Continent to supply the tables of the wealthy; the fact that it 
is a common species at no greater distance than the north of France, renders its 
occasional visits to our coasts extremely probable. The first recorded instance of 
its occurrence was that of an example caught in Marylebone Fields, and figured 
by Brown in 1776, since which time somewhere about thirty specimens have been 
either obtained or seen, mostly in various parts of England; about five being 
recorded from Scotland, and one from Ireland. 
The adult male Ortolan Bunting has the head, nape, and upper breast greenish 
grey; eyelid whitish; lores, a moustachial streak, the chin and fore-throat sulphur 
yellow; back, wing-coverts, and secondaries pale reddish-brown, with blackish 
central streaks to the feathers; lower back and rump with barely defined streaks; 
the remaining feathers of the wings and the tail brown, the three outer tail feathers 
with large terminal patches of white on the inner webs; lower breast, belly, and 
under tail-coverts pale reddish brown; beak vinous brown; feet reddish clay- 
coloured; iris dark brown. The female is altogether duller and browner than the 
male, the head greener and streaked with dark brown. Young birds nearly 
resemble the female, but are yellower and more streaked below, and only have 
white patches on the two outer pairs of tail-feathers. 
After the autumn moult the head and breast of this species are somewhat 
greener, and the beak paler, more flesh-coloured. 
According to Hamilton, the Hindostani name for this bird is ‘ Jamjohara.” 
Respecting the habits of this bird when at liberty, Seebohm remarks :—‘“I 
found the Ortolan Bunting breeding on the mountains in the pine-regions both 
of Greece and Asia Minor. When I was at Valconswaard, we constantly heard its 
plaintive monotonous song, as it sat perched for a long time on the branch of a 
tree in the lanes, or in the hedges that surround the fields close to the village; 
and in the wilder districts of Norway, when driving in our carioles from Lille- 
hammer towards the Dovre Fjeld, it was by no means uncommon in the trees by 
the roadside. It is not a shy bird, and frequently remains for a very long time 
on the same twig, generally near the top of the tree, especially in the evening, 
when its simple song harmonizes with the melancholy stillness of the outskirts of 
the country village.” 
The nest of the Ortolan is formed in the latter half of May, being placed 
in a slight depression on the ground amongst herbage, under bushes, or in the 
open fields. It is formed of dry grass strengthened with roots, and is lined with 
rootlets and hair. The eggs number from four to six, and vary from pale lilac to 
