48 MEADOW BUNTING. 



Spain, and the shores and islands of the Mediterranean. 

 It occurs in the south of Germany, as far as the 

 Rhine. It is stationary in some parts of Provence, 

 and migratory in others: it is also a bird of passage 

 in Lorraine. It is plentiful in Greece during the 

 winter months, in which season it is mentioned by 

 Mr. Carte as common in the Crimea, and by the 

 Honourable Mr. Powys ("Ibis," vol. if, p. 138,) as 

 resident, but not abundant, in Corfu. It does not 

 appear to have been found in the north of Germany; 

 and Temminck says it does not occur in Holland. 

 Dubois informs us that it is occasionally found in 

 Austria and Bavaria, and is very rare in Belgium. It 

 is a bird of passage in Switzerland. It ranges through 

 a great part of Asia — Syria, Arabia, and the Daouria; 

 and is mentioned by Mr. Tristram among the birds of 

 North Africa, ("Ibis," vol. i, p. 295.) 



Of its habits Nanmann has given us the best des- 

 cription, and I am principally indebted to him for 

 the following history: — The Meadow Bunting appears 

 in Central Germany in March and April, and leaves 

 in October or beginning of November, after which a 

 solitary bird only is to be found. In Switzerland it 

 is much rarer than the Cirl Bunting. It likes to live 

 in mountainous places, not, however, in the wild and 

 deserted parts, but among the fertile valleys. Sometimes 

 it seeks out meadows, and is found among the bushes 

 bordering woods, and it especially loves those "places 

 which are near cultivated fields and gardens. It also 

 frequents the neighbourhood of water, and lingers about 

 the banks of brooks and ditches, where it sits among 

 the thickest bushes, and is often seen on the ground. 



It is a lively restless bird, pecking and fighting 

 with other birds, as well as with the members of its 



