298 BUNTING. 



white, and a spot of white at the tip of the two outer ones; the legs 

 yellowish brown. The female is much duller in colour, with very 

 little yellow about the head. 



This is, we believe, full as common as any of our British birds, 

 and known to every one ; generally building in a low bush, or hedge, 

 near to, or on the ground ; the nest is composed chiefly of straw, 

 mixed with a little moss, dried leaves, and stalks, ill put together, 

 and lined with hair or wool ; the eggs are four or five in number, 

 white, or nearly so, more or less marked with irregular, brown, or 

 blackish streaks, with here and there a blotch terminating the 

 streak ; weight of each from 30 to 47 grains. This bird is usually 

 called the Yellow-hammer; it is a tame, silly species, and its note 

 trifling, not often more than a scream, though in spring the male 

 attempts a sort of song, consisting of seven notes, six of which are 

 equal, and pretty quick, the last sharper than the others, and held 

 to the length of three of the others at least : in winter often seen in 

 flocks with other birds, attending the farm yards, for the sake of the 

 scattered grain. 



We believe this to be a general inhabitant throughout Europe, 

 and will feed both on grain and insects, but the flesh is apt to prove 

 bitter when caught at large ; perhaps the being fatted in the manner 

 of the Ortolan might greatly improve the flavour : in Italy, however, 

 where all small birds are eaten without distinction, they are by no 

 means complained of. It is found as far north as Sondmor, in Russia, 

 and the west of Siberia, but none in the wilds of the East. 



6.— GREEN-HEADED BUNTING. 



Emberiza Tunstalli, Ind. Orn. i. 418. 



- chlorocephala, Gm. Lin. i. 887. 



Green-headed Bunting, Gen. Syn. iii. 211. Brown, III. 74. pi, 30. Lemhi's Birds, ii. 



pi. 76. Orn. Diet. 



BILL brown ; head and neck, as far as the breast, dull olive 

 green ; back, and wing coverts dusky brown, mixed with black, 



