SNOW-BUNTING — ORTOLAN. 191 



Snow-Buntings (*°) and Bantam-Cocks made a 



display ; 

 The Wood-chats and Ortolans perched on a spray. 



( 20 ) Order, Passeres, (Linn.) Bunting, Ortolan, 

 Yellow-Hammer, &c. 



The genus Emberiza, (Linn.) or Bunting, consists of above 

 eighty species, of which the Snow-Bunting, Emberiza nivalis, 

 and the Ortolan, Emberiza hortulana, are two. This tribe of 

 birds is scattered over the four quarters of the globe, but chiefly 

 found in Europe and America; several species are inhabitants 

 of this country. They are distinguished by a conic bill, the 

 mandibles receding from each other from the base downwards; 

 the lower sides narrowed in, the upper with a hard knob. The 

 following are the chief. 



The Nivalis, Snow-Bunting, Pied- Mountain- Finch, Pied 

 Chaffinch, Snow-bird, Snow-flake, has the quill feathers white, the 

 primaries black on the outer edge; tail feathers black, the late- 

 ral ones white. Three other varieties ; in all the colours vary 

 with age, sex, climate, most of them being nearly white in win- 

 ter, but the back and middle coverts black ; larger than the 

 chaffinch. They inhabit, during summer in vast flocks, the 

 north of Europe, Asia, and America; in winter migrate to a 

 wanner climate; they appear in Scotland in large flocks during 

 the winter; rarely seen in the south of England. Builds in 

 holes of rocks, it is said, occasionally in Scotland; eggs five, 

 reddish white spotted with brown. 



The Hortulana, or Ortolan, has the quill feathers brown, 

 the three first whitish at the edges ; tail feathers brown, the two 

 lateral ones black on the outer side ; three or four other varie- 

 ties. Inhabits Europe; rarely seen in this country; six and a 

 quarter inches long ; feeds chiefly on panic grass ; grows very 

 fat, and then esteemed a delicacy; iays twice a year four or five 

 grey eggs, in a low hedge or on the ground. 



