ORTOLAN BUNTING. 65 



1NSESSORES. EMBERIZIDM. 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CIII. 



ORTOLAN BUNTING. 

 Emberiza Hortulana. 



The Ortolan Bunting is a very scarce bird in England, 

 and very few instances of its capture are authenticated. 

 These few were stragglers probably from the Continent of 

 Europe, engaged in their vernal or autumnal course of mi- 

 gration. On the continent these birds are in some parts very 

 common, arriving from the south about the end of April or 

 beginning of May : they penetrate as far north as Denmark, 

 Sweden, and Norway, and even Lapland, and remain in those 

 countries to breed. 



In August these birds commence their southward move- 

 ment, and, passing leisurely and singly or in families or small 

 groups, the greater part retire to the islands of the Medi- 

 terranean, or to the coast of Africa, to pass the winter. Ac- 

 cording to the observations of Mr. Drummond of the habits 

 of this species in the island of Crete, it would appear that the 

 Ortolan Bunting is a permanent resident there ; but it has 

 been observed by naturalists at Gibraltar to wing its flight 

 from that locality towards the coast of Africa, and to return 

 across the same narrow channel in the spring. In Corfu it 

 arrives, according to the same authority, about the 10th of 

 April, and in the beginning of May retires to the mountains 

 to breed. In Italy, Greece, and the southern parts of France 



VOL. III. F 



