YELLOW BUNTING. 49 



WSESSORES. EMBERIZIDJE, 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE C. 



YELLOW BUNTING. 



Emberiza citrinella. 



The Yellow Bunting, one of the handsomest and best 

 known of its tribe, is generally distributed over this country, 

 in suitable localities ; it also inhabits great part of Europe and 

 Asia, and is found as far to the north as Norway and Sweden. 

 The localities frequented by this Bunting are various ; there 

 is scarcely a hedgerow, lane, or knot of bushes, in any culti- 

 vated and open district, where this species may not be seen in 

 spring, its bright golden head conspicuous above the varied 

 tints of that season. It appears chiefly partial to country of 

 an open and level character, but not exclusively to cultivated 

 parts, as it is always to be seen among the bright broom and 

 furze upon heathy and lonely wastes. 



To our feelings, the unobtrusive character of this little 

 bird, and its peaceful, cheerful notes, possess a peculiar 

 charm. Who has not felt refreshed, when, toiling along a 

 lonely road in a sultry, breathless summer day, he has heard 

 the often repeated and happy notes of this gentle creature, 

 which seem to express cheerfulness and content ? 



The note of this bird, although generally contemptuously 

 spoken of, is really soft and pleasing ; and as a ventriloquist 

 he is unrivalled. We once possessed a caged bird of this 

 species, a male in fine plumage : it was caught early in the 



VOL. III. E 



