THE BUNTINGS. 
69 
THE YELLOW BUNTING. EMBERIZA C1TRINELLA. 
Emberha citrinella , Linn., S. N., i., p. 309 (1766 ) ; Macg., Br. 
B., i., p. 445 (1837); Dresser, B. Eur., iv., p. 171, pi. 
209 (1871); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 43 (1876) ; B. O. U. 
List Br. B., p. 60 (1883) ; Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 160 (1884) ; 
Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 515 (1888); Saunders, 
Man., p. 201 (1889) ; Wyatt, Br. B., pi. 17 (1894). 
Adult Male. —Brown above, with black centres to the feathers 1 
lower back and rump vinous-chestnut ; under surface of body 
yellow, greener on the fore-neck and sides of neck ; no stripes 
on the throat and breast, but the flanks distinctly streaked with 
blackish-brown ; crown yellow, greenish on the sides ; eyebrow 
yellow ; breast and sides of the body chestnut or bay. Total 
length, 7 inches; culmen, o'45; wings, 3'6; tail, 3-0; tarsus, 0-75. 
In winter the colours are much duller, and the bright 
plumage, especially of the chestnut breast, is much obscured. 
In the spring the dusky edges gradually become abraded and 
wear off, so that the full plumage is gained without a moult. 
Adult Female. — Never so brightly coloured as the male, and 
having the yellow on the crown concealed, and the throat and 
breast striped. Total length, 6-3 ; wing, 3-2. 
Young. — Resembles the old female, but is very distinctly 
streaked below. 
Range in Great Britain. — Universal, breeding everywhere, ex- 
cept in the Orkneys, where it is only known as a visitant. 
Range outside the British Islands.— Cenerally resident through- 
out Central Europe, but a summer visitor in the northern 
portion of its range, which extends as far as 70° in Scandi- 
navia, 65.1° in Eastern Russia, and 64° on the River Ob. It 
reaches Turkestan to the eastward, but is only a winter visitor, 
as it is also to the greater part of Southern Europe. 
Hahits.— In England a very common and familiar bird, 
recognisable in every country lane and hedgerow by its some- 
what monotonous note, which sounds like 1 a little bit of 
bread and —no cheese .” In winter it joins with the Chaffinches, 
Sparrows, and Greenfinches in the stubbles and farm-yards, and 
feeds largely on grain. The young birds, however, are entirely 
fed on insects and caterpillars. 
