in ornithology, a genus of birds belonging to the order of passerines. The bill is conical, and the mandibles recede from each other towards the base; the inferior mandible has the sides narrowed inwards, but the upper one is still narrower. The most remarkable species are,

1. The nivalis, or great pygmy mountain-finch of Ray, and the snow-bird of Edwards, has white wings, but the outer edge of the prime-feathers are black; the tail is black, with three white feathers on each side. These birds are called in Scotland snow-flakes, from their appearance in hard weather and in deep snows. They arrive in that season among the Cheviot-hills and in the Highlands in amazing flocks. A few breed in the Highlands, on the summit of the highest hills, in the same places with the ptarmigans; but the greatest numbers migrate from the extreme north. They appear in the Shetland islands; then in the Orkneys; and multitudes of them often fall, wearied with their flight, on vessels in the Pentland Frith. Their appearance is a certain fore-runner of hard weather, and storms of snow, being driven by the cold from their common retreats. Their progress southward is probably thus; Spitzbergen and Greenland, Hudson's Bay, the Lapland Alps, Scandinavia, Iceland, the Ferro Isles, Shetland, Orkneys, Scotland, and the Chiviot-hills. They visit at that season all parts of the northern hemisphere, Prussia, Austria, and Siberia. They arrive lean, and return fat. In Austria, they are caught and fed with millet, and, like the ortolan, grow excessively fat. In their flights, they keep very close to each other, mingle most confusedly together, and fling themselves collectively into the form of a ball; at which instant the fowler makes great havoc among them.

2. The miliaria, or grey emberiza, is of a greyish colour, spotted with black in the belly, and the orbits are reddish. It is the bunting of English authors, and a bird of Europe.

3. The hortulana, or ortolan, has black wings; the first three feathers on the tail are white on the edges, only the two lateral are black outwardly. The orbits of the eyes are naked and yellow; the head is greenish, and yellow towards the inferior mandible. It feeds principally upon the panick-grass; grows very fat; and is reckoned a delicate morsel by certain epicures, especially when fattened artificially. These birds are found in several parts of Europe, but are not met with in Britain; are common in France and Italy, and some parts of Germany and Sweden, migrating from one to the other in spring and autumn; and in their passage are caught in numbers, in order to fatten for the table. This species will sometimes sing very prettily, and has been kept for that purpose. The song is not unlike that of the yellowhammer, but finer and sweeter. In some parts it makes the nest in a low hedge; in others, on the ground. It is carelessly constructed, not unlike that of the lark. The female lays four or five greyish eggs, and in general has two broods in a year.

The manner of fattening these birds for the table is as follows. They are taken and placed in a chamber lightened by lanthorns; so that, not knowing the vicissitudes of day and night, they are not agitated by the change. Are fed with oats and millet; and grow so fat, that they would certainly die if not killed in a critical minute. They are a mere lump of fat; of a most exquisite taste, but apt soon to satiate. These birds receive both their Greek and Latin name from their food, the millet. Aristotle calls them cynchromi; and the Latins, miliaria. The latter kept and fattened them in their ornibones, or fowl-yards, as the Italians do at present; which the ancients constructed with the utmost magnificence, as well as conveniency.

4. The citrinella, or yellow-hammer, has a blackish tail, only the two outward side-feathers are marked on the inner edge with a sharp white spot. It is a bird of Europe, and comes about houses in winter; it builds its nest on the ground on meadows.

5. The scheunicla, or reed-sparrow, has a black head, a blackish-grey body, and a white spot on the quill-feathers. It inhabits marshy places, most commonly among reeds, from which it takes its name. Its nest is worthy of notice for the artful contrivance of it, being fastened to four reeds, and suspended by them like a hammock, about three feet above the water; the cavity of the nest is deep, but narrow; and the materials are bushes, fine bents, and hairs. It lays four or five eggs of a bluish white, marked with irregular purplish veins, especially on the larger end. It is a bird much admired for its song; and, like the nightingale, it sings in the night.

6. The oryzivora, or rice-bunting, with the head and whole under side of the body black; hind part of the neck... Emberiza, neck in some pale yellow, and in others white; coverts of the wings, and primaries, black, the last edged with white; part of the scapulars, lesser coverts of the wings, and rump, white; back black, edged with dull yellow; tail of the same colours, and each feather sharply pointed; the legs are red. The head, upper part of the neck, and back, of the female, is yellowish brown, spotted with black; the under part, of a dull yellow; the sides thinly streaked with black.

These birds inhabit in vast numbers the island of Cuba, where they commit great ravages among the early crops of rice, which precede those of Carolina. As soon as the crops of that province are to their palate, they quit Cuba, and pass over the sea, in numerous flights, directly north; and are very often heard in their passage by sailors frequenting that course. Their appearance is in September, while the rice is yet milky; and commit such devastations, that 40 acres of that grain have been totally ruined by them in a small time. They arrive very lean; but soon grow so fat, as to fly with difficulty; and, when shot, often burst with the fall. They continue in Carolina not much above three weeks, and retire by the time the rice begins to harden; going on to other parts, and staying in each only so long as the rice continues green. They come into Rhode Island and New York at the end of April, or the second week in May, frequenting the borders of fields, and live on insects, &c., till the maize is fit for their palate; when they begin by pecking holes in the sides of the hulls, and after satiating themselves go on to another; which leaves room for the rain to get in, and effectually spoils the plants. They continue there during the summer, and breed; returning, as autumn approaches, to the southward. The males and females do not arrive together; the females come first.—They are esteemed to be the most delicate birds of those parts; and the male is said to have a fine note. This species is known in the country by the names of bob lincoln and conqueller; likewise called by some the white-backed maize thief.

There are above 50 other species; two of which, viz., the black-throated bunting a native of America, and the cinereous bunting an inhabitant of Canada, are figured on Plate CLXXXII. as specimens of the genus.