BUNTINGS. 
4i5 
Belgium. The adult male has the head grey, tinged with greenish yellow ; a ring 
of feathers round the eyes and throat being pale citron-yellow; the general 
colour of the upper-parts is reddish brown with black streaks to the feathers of 
the mantle and back; the eyelid is white; the fore-neck and chest are dusky 
greenish olive, and the remainder of the under-parts is reddish cinnamon. 
Meadow Bunting The meadow - bunting {E. cia) is a lively member of the 
family met with, locally, in many parts of Central Europe, living 
chiefly in mountain-valleys such as those to be found in Central France. Each 
pair generally occupies its own particular district, and, while the females incubate 
their eggs, the males rehearse their songs, generally perching in a prominent 
position on the top of some bush. The nest of the meadow-bunting is made of 
THE SPARROW-BUNTING. 
dry stalks and moss, lined with horsehair and wool. Mr. Dresser found this bird 
numerous in the neighbourhood of Barcelona, where it frequented the cactus 
hedges, flying when disturbed from plant to plant, and often perching on the very 
top of the cacti, uttering its call-note, zi zi zi. This species chiefly affects the hill¬ 
sides and barren dry places where but few stunted bushes are scattered about; 
but in some parts of Europe it has been found frequenting the vineyards. It feeds 
on various seeds of wild plants, and to some extent on insects. The eggs are easily 
distinguished by their continuous markings, which appear as if they were made by 
a pen without taking it from the surface of the egg. In colour they are pale grey, 
marked with blackish brown lines. The adult male has the head and neck bluish 
grey, with two black bands along the sides of the crown, and two other black 
bands passing through the eye, forming a moustache; while the upper-parts are 
bright russet, streaked with black ; the rump chestnut-red ; the throat white; the 
