296 BUNTING. 



that cause, did not their feeders kill them for the sake of emolument 

 from the sale, for the flesh is thought to be one of the most exquisite 

 morsels yet known, being, as it were, a lump of rich fat; and when 

 arrived at this state, each bird will often weigh three ounces. It is 

 said to be very common in the South of Russia, and in Siberia, as far 

 as the River Ob, but never goes much to the North ; the most 

 southern part, in which they are found, is Barbary, where they are 

 plentiful, and kept by the inhabitants in cages, having no contemp- 

 tible song. It is a bird of passage for the most part, and frequently 

 taken in spring and autumn at Gibraltar, and some few inhabit the 

 cultivated parts all the summer; is also said to build in Lorraine, 

 among the wheat.* The nest is made either in a low hedge, or on 

 the ground, carelessly constructed of fibres, mixed with leaves, and 

 not unlike that of a Lark ; the female lays four or five greyish eggs,t 

 and in general has two broods in a year; sometimes frequents the 

 oat fields, of which it seems very fond, and soon grows sufficiently 

 fat for the table, but never reckoned so delicate as when fattened 

 artificially. 



A.— Hortulanus flavus, Bm.iii. 372. A. Id. 8vo. i. 385. Gerin.m. t. 351. 2. Bvf. 

 iv. 312. Rati, 94. 1. Will. 197. Id. Engl. 270. Gen. Syn. iii. 168. A. 



This is wholly of a straw-colour, except the edge of the wing 

 and quills, which are white ; bill and legs reddish. 



B.— Hortulanus candidus, Bris. iii. 273. B. Id. 8vo. i. 385. Buf. iv. 213. Rail, 

 94. 2. Will. 198. Id. Engl. 270. 2. Gen. Syn. iii. 168. B. 



This Variety is wholly white. 



C— Hortulanus albicilla, Bris. iii. 273. C. Id. Svo. i. 385. Raii, 94. 5. Will. 198. 

 Id. Eng. 270. 5. Gen. Syn. iii. 168. C. 



This differs from the common in having the tail almost entirely 

 white. 



* Hist, des Ois. f In Sepp they are very pale purple, with minute dusky specks. 



