The Yellowhammer, or Yellow Bunting. 249 
which it seeks in the crevices of the bark of trees, and 
when thus engaged, clinging in every possible position 
to the branches, it looks like a very diminutive blue 
parrot. In winter the Titmouse visits our gardens and 
orchards, where he is often seen picking the buds of fruit 
trees to pieces ; but in doing this he inflicts little or no 
injury upon the gardener, his object being the capture 
of insects which would probably cause far more mischief 
in the ensuing summer. The nest of the Titmouse is 
built in the hole of a tree or wall ; the female lays usually 
eight or ten eggs, and when sitting defends her nest with 
great courage, pecking at the fingers of boys so vigorously 
that in some parts of the country she is known by the 
name of Billy Biter. The Lorrg-tailed Tit is also a 
common bird about hedges, orchards, and plantations. 
He is an active lively little fellow, and resembles the 
common Tit in his habits. 
THE YELLOWHAMMER, OR YELLOW 
BUNTING. (Emberiza citrinella.) 
This bird is somewhat larger than the sparrow. Its 
head is of a greenish yellow, spotted with brown ; the 
throat and belly are yellow ; the breast and sides, under 
the wings, mingled with red. These birds build their 
nests on the ground, near some bush, where the female lays 
five or six eggs. The Yellowhammer may be sometimes 
seen perched on the finger of some poor man or woman 
in the streets of London, in a state of complete tameness ; 
but this is the transitory effect of intoxication, and soon 
after the bird is bought and brought home, it dies, over- 
come by the power of the laudanum that has been given it. 
This bird feeds on seeds and various sorts of insects, 
