Encyclopaedia Britannica > Volume 15, NIC-PAR

ORNITHOLOG Y.
78c
Qrix.
their principal food •, though, on examining their nests,
M found the wings and legs of different insects. 1 rom
every appearance, the nest winch 1 dissected had been
inhabited for many years', and some parts of it were much
more complete than others, i his, therefore, i conceive
to amount nearly to a proof, that the animals added to
it at different times, as they found necessary from the
increase of the family, or rather ot the nation or com¬
munity.”
Qrenadisr grosbeak.—Gray 5 bill, front, and belly,
black •, neck and rump tawney ; sometimes the wings
are white, and the tail is brown. Size of a sparrow ;
inhabits Africa, and is found chiefly in marshy and
reedy grounds. The nest is formed among the icons
with small twigs, so closely interwoven with cotton, as
not to be penetrated by any weather. It is also divided
into two compartments, ot which the upper is for the
male, and the lower for the female and the young.
Among various other species which we have not room
to describe, there are two or three of a very small size,
which inhabit Surinam.
7S1
Emberiza
7S3
Characters.
?St
Nivalis,
784
^dustelitic
7S5
^Ipntaric,
786
frfjliaiia.
Gen. 82. Emberiza, Bunting.
Bill conical j mandibles receding from each other from
the base downwards, the lower with the sides con¬
tracted, the upper with a hard knob within.
Snow bunting, snow bird, ov snow flake.—Quill fea¬
thers white, the primaries black on the outer edge 5 tail
feathers black, the three lateral ones white j bill and
legs brown. Besides the varieties induced by age, sex,
ami climate, there are others which seem to be more
permanent. In winter, the whole body, except the back
and middle coverts, often becomes nearly white. Some¬
what larger than the chaffinch. In summer, inhabits in
vast flocks, the north of Europe, Asia, and America.
In winter, migrates to some warmer climate. Breeds in
some of the mountains of Scotland, where it is sometimes
mistaken tor the ortolan. It builds in the fissures ot
rocks, constructing a nest of grass and feathers lined
with the hair and wool of the arctic fox or other qua¬
druped, and lays five eggs. It sings well, sitting on the
ground, feeds on grain, and is wakeful during the night.
It is taken in great numbers in winter, when it is lat,
and its flesh esteemed delicate.
Tawncy bunting.—Quill feathers dusky, white at the
base, the last wholly black j tail feathers black, the
middle ones at the edge, and three lateral ones, white on
each side, with a dusky spot without. Nearly seven
inches long. Inhabits with the last; but is more rare.
In some places it is called sea lark and brambhng.
Mountain bunting, lesser mountain finch or brambling.
Five first quill feathers blackish brown, the rest white,
spotted with brown at the tips ‘, tail feathers brown,
three lateral ones all white on each side •, bill yellow,
tipt with black ■, head chesnut *, chin white *, upper part
of the neck and back cinereom ; breast and belly with
longitudinal flame-coloured spots. Found in Yorkshire,
Lincolnshire, and Northamptonshire, but is not common.
Common bunting.—Brown *, spotted, with black be¬
neath \ orbits rufous $ bill and legs brownish *, quill fea¬
thers duskv \ outer edges pale yellow tail a little fork¬
ed, edged with white 5 legs yellowish. Weight nearly
two ounces j length seven inches and a half. Inhabits
Europe in large flocks during the autumn and winter.
Seems partial to champaign countries, abounding with pass(
corn, and is rarely found in uncultivated parts, or in'—
grass fields remote from arable land. W bile tbe female
is employed in incubation, the male sits on the branch
of a neighbouring tree, and cheers her with his rude
son*r. The nest is placed on the ground, formed exter¬
nally of straw, lined with fibrous roots or dry grass, and
sometimes finished with long hairs. The eggs are from
four to six, of a dirty white, spotted and veined with
reddish-brown and ash-colour. These birds are some¬
times brought to market, and sold for larks, to which
they are little or nothing inferior, but are easily distin-
o-uished by the form of the bill, and the tooth like
knob in the roof of the month, by the most common
observer. ^ . . r
Ortolan.—Quill feathers brown, the first three whitish ilwtu
at the edges j tail feathers brown, the two lateral ones
black on the outer side 5 bill, naked eyelids and legs
yellowish j head and neck olive-ash 5 chin yellowish,
surrounded with a cinereous line \ feathers of the back
and scapulars brownish-bay, black in the middle •, body
reddish beneath. The female is distinguished by the
head and neck being cinereous, and each feather with
a narrow blackish line. Somewhat less than the yellow
hammer •, length six inches and a quarter. Inhabits se¬
veral parts of Europe, but is not found in Britain. Orto¬
lans are common in France, Italy, some parts of Germany,
Sweden, &.c. migrating in spring and autumn, when
they are caught in great quantities, and fattened for the
table. For this purpose, they are confined in a dark
room, and fed plentifully with oats and millet. They
are then killed for sale, and reckoned the most delicate
of food. The ortolan will sometimes sing very prettily,
its note being not unlike that of the yellow hammer, but
finer and sweeter. In some parts, it makes its nest on a
low hedge, in others on the ground, and constructs it
carelessly, like that of the lark. The female lays four
or five grayish eggs, and in general has two broods in
the year.—There are five or six varieties. 7$|
Yellow hammer, or yellow bunting.—Tail feathers Citm 1.
blackish, the two outer ones on the inner edge, with a
pointed white spot bill black ; crown, cheeks and body
beneath yellow 5 eyebrows brownish ; nape greenish;
feathers of the neck and back blackish down the middle,
rufous at the sides, and edged with gray ; rump pale
tawney j wings chesnut, olive or black, mostly edged
with gray ; lateral ones olive without ; the tip edged
with white j legs yellowish-brown. The weight of this
species is about seven drams: length six inches. Inhabits
Europe, and is one of tbe most common indigenous
birds of this country. Its song is as little attractive as
that of the common bunting, possessing only a repetition
of the same note, five or six times successively, and ter¬
minating in one more lengthened and shrill. It congre¬
gates in winter, approaching houses, and picking up
scattered grains. It does not breed till late in the spring.
Tbe nest is generally placed near the ground, in some
low bush or hedge, and is composed of straw and various
dried stalks, lined with fine dry grass, and finished with
long hair. The eggs differ somewhat in colour and
size, some being nearly white, and others haying a purp¬
lish hue, but all more or less marked with hair-like
streaks. The number is usually three, four, or five. ^
Foolish bunting, or foolish sparrow.—Reddish 5 head c;a,
with a few blackish lines 5 eyebrows white. Size of tne
yellow