Genus EMBERIZA.

Gen. Cuar. Bill conical, strong, hard, and sharp-pointed ; tomia of both mandibles bending
inwards, and compressed towards the point; the upper mandible narrower and smaller
than the under one, and its roof furnished with a hard bony knob; base of the mandibles,
or gape, forming an angle, and rather open. _Wostrils basal and round, partly hidden by
the small feathers at the base of the bill. Fees having three toes before and one behind ;
the anterior ones entirely divided. Claws rather long and curved. Wings with the first

quills rather shorter than the second and third.

COMMON BUNTING.

Emberiza miliaria, Linn.

Le Bruant Proyer.

Tus well-known species of Bunting may be considered a permanent resident in the British Islands, over the
whole of which it is dispersed ; it is also equally abundant on the Continent, where it ranges from the regions
of the arctic circle to the most southern boundary of Europe: of this fact we have received satisfactory
evidence, by the inspection of examples from Trebizond in Asia Minor, which country would, however, appear
to be nearly its southern and eastern limit, as we have never observed any specimens in collections either from
India or Africa.

It is the largest and one of the most typical of its genus, having the palatine knob more fully developed than
in any other species. Its food consists, in a great measure, of grains and seeds, which induces it to give a
preference to those cultivated districts which afford the most abundant supply. Besides grain, many of the
Buntings eat insects and their larve with avidity, and we have observed the present bird in particular feeding
on the body of the large species of Chafer Welolontha vulgaris. During autumn and winter the Common
Bunting congregates in flocks, often in company with the Lark, to which, in the flavour of its flesh, it is very
similar; on the return of spring it is dispersed over the face of the country, being partial to hedge-rows
skirting large fields, where it may be observed perched on the topmost twig uttering its oft-repeated
monotonous note, which is more loud although not unlike that of the Yellow-hammer, Emberiza citrinella.

The ground is the situation chosen for the purpose of incubation, and in this respect it resembles the true
Larks ; the nest is composed of various grasses lined with hair and fibrous roots; the eggs are five or six in
number, of a pinkish grey, streaked and spotted with reddish brown.

The sexes so nearly resemble each other in the colour of their plumage as to render a description of both
unnecessary ; the young also assume at an early age, with a trifling exception, the precise tints of the adult.

The whole of the upper plumage is brown inclining to olive, the centre of each feather being darker; the
under surface yellowish white, with numerous stripes of dark brown running down the shaft of each feather ;
feet and bill brown.

The Plate represents an adult male of the natural size.

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