[Illustration]
Emberiza miliaria, LINNÆUS; Le Proyer, BUFFON; Der
Gerstenammer, BECHSTEIN.
This species, found throughout Europe and the north of Asia, has not so
good a title to be admitted into the house as the preceding, not being
distinguished either for its song or the beauty of its colours. With a
plumage very similar to that of the sky-lark, it surpasses it in size,
being seven inches and a half in length, of which the tail measures
three. The beak, measuring six lines, is strong, yellowish on the under
part in summer; the rest of the year the whole of it is grey brown; the
feet the same, which stand six lines in height. The general tint of the
plumage is pale, reddish grey on the upper part of the body, and
yellowish white on the under, speckled like the lark's, with blackish
brown spots.
In the female the colours are rather lighter.
HABITATION.--In its wild state this bird is common in most parts of
Europe; in the more northerly parts it does not remain during the
winter, and only appears at certain seasons; in March they are met
with amongst the larks in the fields, meadows, and on the high roads,
often perched on the tops of willows, or on a stake in a hedge, on a
milestone, or a clod of earth.
In a room it may occupy a lark's cage, but is more commonly let run
about at liberty.
FOOD.--Both at liberty and in confinement its food is similar to that
of the yellowhammer; it is however a more delicate bird.
BREEDING.--Its nest, placed under a bush, does not rest on the ground
but on the turf; it is constructed of the stalks of grass, and lined
with horse-hair. The eggs are grey, speckled with chestnut and
streaked with black.
MODE OF TAKING.--In autumn these birds may be taken in an area with a
decoy bird; in winter, before the barn door, with bird-lime or a
clapper; in the spring with a bird-call.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--Their song, shorter and less soft than that of
the yellowhammer, has only four or five notes; from their dwelling on
the _r_ in the last, they have been given the name of _stocking
weavers_.