347 



FAMILY XV.*— FRINGILLIN^. FINCHES. 

 Genus Il.f— EMBERIZA, Linn. BUNTING. 



SHATTUCK'S BUNTING. 

 Emberiza Shattuckii, Aud. 



PLATE CCCCLXLIIL— Male. 



This handsome little species is found quite abundant throughout the 

 country bordering on the Upper Missouri. It inhabits with particular 

 partiality the small vallies found here and there along the numerous 

 ravines running from the interior, and between such hills as I have already 

 mentioned. Its usual demeanour resembles much that of the Chipping 

 Bunting, Emberiza socialis of Wilson, and like it, it spends much of its 

 time in singing its monotonous ditties; whilst its mate is engaged in the 

 pleasing task of incubation. When approached it will dive and conceal itself 

 either amid the low bushes around, or will seek a large cluster or patch of 

 wild roses, so abundant in that section of country, and the fragrance of which 

 will reach the olfactory nerve of the traveller or gunner for many paces. 



The nest of the Shattuck Bunting is usually placed on a small horizontal 

 branch, seven or eight feet from the ground; and I believe is occasionally 

 placed in the broken and hollow branches of trees. The eggs, four or five 

 in number, are blue, spotted with reddish-brown toward the large end, and 

 placed in a nest so slightly formed of slender grasses, circularly lined with 

 horse or cattle hair, as to resemble as much as possible the nest of the 

 species to which it is allied. 



I have great pleasure in naming this species after my worthy young friend 

 George C. Shattuck, Esq., M. D., of Boston, one of the amiable gentle- 

 men who accompanied me on my voyage to the coast of Labrador. 



Shattuck's Bunting, Emberiza Shattuckii, Aud. 



* See vol. iii. p. 49. t Ibid. p. 58. 



