General 
descrip- 
tion. 
246 PASSERES. EMBERIZA. Cint-Buntrine. 
able to the young birds he reared, and that the common 
grasshopper was their favourite morsel. After they could 
peck, the smaller seeds and oats were in request, but wheat 
and barley were invariably refused. 
According to the continental authors, the Cirl-Bunting is 
abundant in the warmer parts of France, in Italy, and on 
the shores of the Mediterranean; but does not inhabit the 
colder regions. 
PraTeE 52. Fig. 4. A male bird of the natural size. 
Above and below the eye is a streak of primrose-yel- 
low. Crown of the head yellowish-grey, with the cen- 
tres of the feathers black. Neck and lower part of the 
breast yellowish-grey, inclming to olive-green. Throat, 
and streak before and behind the eye, blackish-green. 
Upper part of the breast, or gorget, primrose-yellow. 
Feathers upon the back blackish-brown, passing imto 
orange-brown, and edged with greyish-white. Scapu- 
lars reddish-orange, edged with yellowish-white. Quills 
greenish-grey, edged with primrose-yellow. Belly and 
sides primrose-yellow, the latter varied with reddish- 
orange. Two outer tail feathers having the anterior 
part of their inner webs white; the rest being black, 
edged with yellowish-grey. Legs and toes pale brown, 
with a tinge of flesh-red. 
The female has the head oil-green, with spots of a darker 
shade. Above the eye is a dull yellow streak, passing — 
down the side of the head. Chin and throat yellowish- 
brown, streaked with darker brown. Belly and sides 
primrose-yellow, with large dusky streaks. Upper parts 
like the male bird, but with the colours not so bright. 
