ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The male surpasses the ortolan in beauty, but does not equal it in its song, as in this it more resembles the yellowhammer. These birds, however, are very easily tamed, and may be preserved five or six years. THE FOOLISH BUNTING. Emberiza Cia, LINNÆUS; Le Bruant Fou, BUFFON; Der Zipammer, BECHSTEIN. This bird is rather smaller than the yellowhammer, being only six inches long, of which the tail measures two and a half; the beak, five lines in length, is very sharp, blackish above, and greyish below; the iris is dusky; the legs, nine lines in height, are of a brownish flesh-colour. The head is grey, spotted with red, with small black streaks on the top, and an indistinct black line on the sides; the back is reddish brown, speckled with black, the rump light red brown; the throat pale ash-colour. The female differs very little from the male: the head is grey with a reddish tint and black spots; she has also all the streaks that the male has, but less marked; the ash-coloured throat is streaked with black and has a reddish tint; in short, the whole of the under part of the body is lighter. HABITATION.--When wild, this species, which loves solitude, and prefers mountainous districts, inhabits the south of France, Italy, and the south of Austria. In some winters they quit these countries and proceed even to the middle of Germany, where they are found in March and April in elevated situations. In the house they are either kept in a cage or left to range a room, and the latter seems to agree with them best, particularly if they have a grated and quiet place to rest in and pass the night. FOOD.--When wild, these birds, like others of the genus, feed on insects and grain. In the house they may be fed on the same food as the ortolan, on which they may be preserved in health above six years, as I have proved by a pair which I kept myself for that time. MODE OF TAKING.--These birds come without difficulty at the call of the yellowhammer, and enter into every kind of snare so heedlessly, that they have thence been given the name of _foolish bunting_. ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--They are very fine and lively birds, whose voice is heard the whole year; in winter their note of call, and from spring to autumn, their cheerful song, shorter indeed, but clearer than that of the yellowhammer. They live very amicably in a room with other species of their genus, especially the yellowhammer; and where one goes the other follows, and if one chooses any particular food, the other prefers the same. THE BLACK BONNET, OR REED BUNTING. [Illustration] Emberiza Schoeniclus, LINNÆUS; L'Ortolan de Roscaux, BUFFON; Rohrammer, BECHSTEIN.