File:Reptiles and birds - a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting (1883) (14772294613).jpg

Identifier: reptilesbirds00figu (find matches)
Title: Reptiles and birds : a popular account of their various orders, with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting
Year: 1883 (1880s)
Authors: Figuier, Louis, 1819-1894 Gillmore, Parker
Subjects: Reptiles Birds
Publisher: London : Cassell & Co.

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banks of rivers. They buildtheir nests on the ground, or on low bushes, and lay four or five eggs.The young, when hatched, are blue. Their plumage is deficient inbrilliancy, but their song is not without attractions. In autumn,when they leave the colder regions to go south, fattened with therich produce of the harvest-fields, they have a rich, delicate flavour,and are then eagerly sought after for the table in France, andfrequently brought to market along with larks. The Common Bunting (Einhcriza miliaria^ Fig. 215) is best known.In winter it assembles in large flocks, and is shot in immense numbersfor human food. It is destitute of song, and generally roosts onbushes. 498 REPTILES AND BIRDS. The Black-throated Bunting (Euspiza Americana^ Fig. 216) wasdiscovered by the American ornithologist, Wilson. In many respectsit resembles our Yellow-ammer. It is migratory. The Yellow-ammer (Emhcriza citrinella)^ is well known by itsalmost canary-like plumage and bold jaunty air. When this bird
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Fig. 215.—Common Bunting 216.—Clack-throated Buntiii: becomes fat, It is supposed by some epicures to rival the celebratedOrtolan. The Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus), on the other hand, althoughfound in Devon and Cornwall, and other parts of England, is onlyplentiful in the southern parts of Europe, and does not migrate intothe colder regions. The Ortolan Bunting (Emberiza hortiilana. Fig. 217), so well knownto gourmets and pot-hunters of Southern Europe, migrates periodi-cally. They have been found in various parts of Engl-and, but THE SNOW BUNTING. 499 were evidently stragglers, driven there by accidental circumstances.They abound on the northern shores of the jNIediterranean, in WesternCentral Asia, in France, and as far north as Norway, where they areknown to breed. Their favourite resorts, according to Meyer, are theborders of woods, hedges, and fields, near a water-course clothedwith low willows and bushes. Although very shy, still great num-bers are captured in nets, when t

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