70 
RICE BUNTING. 
the seed of the Guinea grass, and are also in high esteem there for the 
table.* 
Thus it appears, that the regions north of the fortieth degree of lati- 
tude are the breeding places of these birds ; that their migrations north- 
erly are performed from March to May, and their return southerly from 
August to November ; their precise winter quarters, or farthest retreat 
southerly, is not exactly known. 
The Rice Bunting is seven inches and a half long, and eleven and a 
half in extent ; his spring dress is as follows ; upper part of the head, 
wings, tail and sides of the neck, and whole lower parts black ; the 
feathers frequently skirted with brownish yellow as he passes into the 
colors of the female ; back of the head a cream color ; back black, 
seamed with brownish yellow; scapulars pure white, rump and tail 
coverts the same ; lower part of the back bluish white ; tail formed like 
those of the Woodpecker genus, and often used in the same manner, 
being thrown in to support it while ascending the stalks of the reed ; 
this habit of throwing in the tail it retains even in the cage ; legs a 
brownish flesh color ; hind heel very long ; bill a bluish horn color ; eye 
hazel ; see fig. 1. In the month of June this plumage gradually changes 
to a brownish yellow, like that of the female, fig. 2, which has the back 
streaked with brownish black ; whole lower parts dull yellow ; bill 
reddish flesh color ; legs and eyes as in the male. The young birds 
retain the dress of the female until the early part of the succeeding 
spring ; the plumage of the female undergoes no material change of 
color. 
Kennel's Hist. Jam. 
