ENBERIZA, Lin. &c. BUNTING.
Bill strong, short, conical, compressed, sharp edged, and notchless; the upper mandibld narrower than the un der, the edges of both bent inwards, and in the inside of the upper there is a large bony knob, of great use in break ing the kernels and hard seeds on which the family sub sist ; nostrils basal, rounded, surmounted and partly cover ed by feathers in front ; tail forked, or slightly rounded.
The buntings feed chiefly on farinaceous seeds, but also cat insects. Most of them live in woods and gardens, and nestle among hushes and thickets.• Such of them as arc furnished with a long hind toe haunt rocks and plains. The sexes are generally very different in their garb ; and some of the foreign species moult twice in the year. In general they are not gifted with much foresight, and are easily ensnared.
E. citrinella, Lin. &c. Yellow Bunting, Yellow Ham mer, or Yellow Yewiey. Tail feathers blackish, the two outer, or the inner webs, marked with an acute white spot. The ordinary weight of the yellow bunting is about seven drachms, the length six inches three lines, and its extent of wing nine inches two lines It inhabits Europe from its southermost point at least as far north as Sondmor, and it is likewise found in the west of Siberia. In this and many other countries it is of very common occurrence. Its song is as little attractive as that of the common bunt ing, consisting merely of a repetition five or six times of the same note, and terminating in one more lengthened and shrill. But, besides this native note, it has two par ticular calls, the one that of rallying, which it commonly utters when flying, and on the approach of evening during summer ; and the other expressive of its uneasiness when offended, especially when one comes near its nest or its little ones. Many of them are supposed to travel south ward during the autumn ; such as remain congregate in winter, and, mingling with sparrows, chaffinches, and other small birds, approach houses in the 'day-time, or even towns, or frequent highways, picking up little grains, and extracting them from the clung of horses, &c. This
ctlimbination of different species, intent on catering, lasts only during the day ; for some hours before night-fall the family separate, and retire to their respective haunts, the buntings previously perching on the tops of trees, from which they do not descend till after sun-set. From the same elevation the male pours forth his note in the season of love, remaining sometimes for hours together without changing his i position. In spring and summer they frequent hedges and copses, but rarely the interior of forests. They fly rapidly, alight suddenly, and for the most part amidst thick foliage. The female does not breed till late in the spring, and yet has two, and sometimes three hatches in the season. The nest, which is large, flat, and rather artlessly composed, is generally placed near the ground, sometimes under a clod, but more fre quently in some low bush or hedge, and consists of straw and various dried stalks, lined with fine grass and long hair. The eggs vary in respect of colour and size, some being nearly white, and others having a purplish hue, but all more or less marked with hair-like streaks, and termi nated with a roundish speck; and their number varies from three to five. The dam incubates with such ardent attachment, that she may be frequently caught by the hand. During her short absence for food, the male takes her place in the nest.. The young are fed with small seeds and in sects. In captivity these birds will live for six or seven years ; but they are liable to epilepsy; and their music is too little engaging to repay the trouble of rearing them. In Italy, where small birds of almost every description are used for the table, the yellow bunting is often fattened for the market.
E. miliaris, Lin. &c. Common Bunting, or Bunting. Prov. Bunting Lark. Grey above, spotted with black beneath ; orbits red. Weight nearly two ounces; length seven inches and a half; alar expanse, eleven inches four lines.