Nest, &c. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
240 PASSERES. EMBERIZA. YELLOW 
he serenades his mate during incubation, and which have 
been, aptly enough, described by Low under the Scottish 
term a skirle. At this time his flight is also peculiar, and 
unlike that used through the rest of the year.—The nest is 
placed among the herbage, near to the ground, and compo- 
sed of straw and dried grasses, lined with fibres of root and 
hair. The eggs, from four to six in number, are of a pale 
yellowish-grey colour, with spots and veins of reddish- 
brown. 
Towards the end of autumn these birds collect in large 
flocks, remaining together till the following spring. At this 
period they become very fat, and are excellent eating; and 
being very similar to the lark in colour, are frequently sold 
as such, to those unacquainted with the distinctive characters 
of the two birds. 
The bunting is found throughout Europe, and extends 
very far to the northward. 
PuaTE 52. Fig. 1. Natural size. 
Culmen of the bill blackish-brown, the rest yellowish- 
white. The whole of the upper parts yellowish-brown, 
inclining to oil-green, with the centers of the feathers 
blackish-brown. 'Throat, lower part of the neck, and 
under parts yellowish-white, or straw-yellow, with nu- 
merous triangular black spots; but the middle of the 
belly immaculate. Woing-coverts and quills blackish- 
brown, deeply edged with yellowish-brown. Tail the 
same. Legs and claws pale wood-brown, with a tinge 
of pink. 
The female resembles the male. 
