The nest is placed in crevices of rocks, and is made of dry grass, roots, and moss, lined with root-fibres, hair, wool, and feathers. Five or six, sometimes seven, eggs are laid, in ground-colour greyish white or pale blue, spotted and blotched with reddish brown, with under-markings of pale brown and pale grey. The young are fed on the larvæ of gnats. In winter the snow-buntings feed on seeds of grass and weeds. Besides the five buntings described, five more species figure in the list of British birds, and these may now be briefly noticed:-- Black-headed bunting (_Emberiza melanocephala_), inhabiting South-eastern Europe; a single specimen has been obtained in this country. Ortolan bunting (_Emberiza hortulana_).--A summer visitor to Europe. Several specimens have been obtained in the British Islands, mostly in the south and east of England. Rustic bunting (_Emberiza rustica_).--Breeds in North-eastern Europe and Northern Siberia. A rare straggler to Britain. Little bunting (_Emberiza pusilla_), from North-eastern Europe and Siberia. Has been taken once in England. Lapland bunting (_Calcarius lapponica_).--A circumpolar species breeding in the arctic regions. Occasionally straggles to this country. Starling. Sturnus vulgaris. Black with purple and green reflections, the upper feathers tipped with pale buff; under tail-coverts edged with white; beak yellow; feet flesh-colour tinged with brown. _Female_: spotted below as well as above. _Young_: uniform ash-brown, unspotted. Length, eight and a half inches. * * * * * A compactly built bird with a short, square tail, strong legs and feet, and a long, sharp beak, the starling does not excel in beauty of figure or grace of carriage; his lines are rather indicative of strength; he looks what he is--a plodding digger in the meadows and pastures, a hardy bird of rook-like habits, able to stand all weathers. But he has a beautiful coat. As in the case of the large corvine species he so frequently associates with when feeding, his richly coloured plumage has a gloss which causes it to shine at times like polished metal in the sunlight. The starling has an added distinction in the spangling of white and buff on the upper parts. During the greater portion of the year his food consists almost entirely of insects in their different stages. Like the rook, he searches at the roots of the grass for worms and grubs; and there is no doubt that he deserves his reputation of one of the farmer’s feathered helpers. He attends the sheep and cattle in the meadows, and is often seen perching on their backs; the animals take it quietly, and perhaps know that he is on the look-out for ticks, which are a source of irritation to them.