moustache. My collection contains many such varieties, of which those from chalk districts are the 
most beautiful. On the continent of Europe other varieties occur, and examples from Norway far exceed 
in size those from more southern countries, especially those of the British Islands. Having mentioned 
these facts, I must now state in what countries the Yellow Buntim? is found besides our own. As regards 
Europe, it will not be necessary to say more than that it occurs in all parts of the continent, from the shores 
of the Mediterranean to Norway, Sweden, and Lapland; it also Inhabits the whole of the northern regions 
of Africa, from Tunis to the Nile ; further eastward it becomes scarce, but I possess the skin of a female 
from Erzeroom. I have never seen a specimen from India, neither does Schrenck include it in his List 
of the Birds of Amoorland. 
M. Badly, in liis work on the ornithology of Savoy, states that “ during the mornings of the months of 
October and November flocks of this Bunting pass through Savoy. They come from the north, traverse the 
valleys, and generally direct their course towards the southern countries of Europe. Some flocks, mingled 
with the Chaflinches and Cirl Buntings, emigrate from Savoy in order to pass the winter in more genial 
regions, and return again towards the end of February and beginning of March ; but considerable numbers 
constantly remain there even during the most severe frosts. The Yellowhammer readily submits to 
confinement, where it will subsist on millet and hemp-seeds or buckwheat, but has no song to solace 
those who may keep it. When destined for the aviary, care must be taken that it be not frightened, 
lest it be destroyed by dashing itself violently against the bars of its prison. Its flesh is delicate and much 
sought after.” Many modes of capturing it for the purposes of the table are resorted to. In the environs 
of Yenne, and ])artlcularly at St. Paul, it is hunted unmercifully. The villagers keep the entrances of their 
barns and granaries wide open during the day (in order that the birds may enter in quest of subsistence), 
conceal themselves behind the buildings, and, as soon as they have seen a number enter, rush with shouts to 
the doors and suddenly close them. Most of the frightened birds attempt to escape by the windows, and there 
become entangled in nets placed for the purpose, while those that continue to fly about are pitilessly killed 
with blows from rods or switches. 
M. de Selys-Longchamps informs us, in his ‘ Faune Beige,’ that “ the Belgian villagers kill many of these 
birds when the ground is covered with snow, by a kind of sporting called ramaille. On a moonless night a 
man goes along the sides of old hedges, holding in his hand a torch of burning straw, towards which the 
Yellowhammers, quitting the hedges, direct themselves, and are immediately knocked down by two or three 
other men with large branches of thorn.” 
Mr. Hewitson states that the nest “ may be found upon almost every briery hedge-dyke ; it is most 
commonly placed upon the ground, but not unfrequently occupies the centre of a thick bush. It is formed 
outwardly of straws, bits of moss, sometimes sticks and coarse grass, finer towards the interior, which is 
finished with roots and a few hairs. The female sits closely, and is not easily driven from the nest. The 
singularly marked eggs, which are from three to five in number, always form a large portion of the bird- 
nesting spoils which fill the string of the schoolboy. Although subject to great variation, they are usually 
so characteristic of the species that it would not be easy to confound them with those of any other bird, 
except the rarer eggs of the Cirl Bunting. In form they are occasionally very long and oval, and sometimes 
as round as a marble. I have seen a single specimen of this egg so much suffused with colour that it 
might have been mistaken for that of the Cuckoo.” 
The adult male in summer has the head, cheeks, ear-coverts, and throat, chest, and centre of the abdomen 
lemon-yellow, the feathers surrounding the crown streaked with dusky ; the lower edge of the ear-coverts 
is also similarly streaked ; nape yellowish, passing into a greenish-olive tint on the lower part of the neck ; 
feathers at the back and wing-coverts black in the centre and largely margined with sandy red ; lower part 
of the back dark rust-red ; primaries dusky black, narrowly edged with pale yellow ; secondaries and 
tertiaries also dusky black, more broadly margined with rufous; tail dusky black, the two centre feathers 
margined with rufous, and the two outer ones on each side with a broad patch of white down the apical 
portion of the inner web ; breast and flanks yellowish red, each feather darker in the centre ; bill bluish 
horn-colour; irides, legs, toes, and claws light brown. 
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the size of life, on a flowering branch of the Bramble, Ttubus friiti- 
cosus ; the beautiful little plant accompanying it is the Pyrola ?ninor, obligingly sent to me for the embellish- 
ment of this work by the Rev. H. Harpur-Crewe. 
