52 



HARDWICKE'S SC1ENCE-G0SSI P. 



know more of the habits, &c, of bees, to read the 

 works of our well-known authorities, and I venture 

 to say that the more they read the greater will be 

 their astonishment at the remarkable doings of these 

 wonderful insects'. J- B. B. 



A RIVERSIDE BUNTING. 

 By W. H. Warner. 



THE rambler by the riverside during the plea- 

 sant season of the year is certain to make 

 the acquaintance of an exceedingly beautiful bird, 

 which flits about among the reeds and water-plants, 

 shoots ahead with a dipping sort of flight, or else, 



place. Her habits, too, are mucb less obtrusive 

 than those of her lord. 



Ornithologists call this beautiful riverside fre- 

 quenter the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza 

 scJiceniculus), and it has, besides, a host of provincial 

 names, the most common, I believe, being that of 

 " Reed Sparrow " or " Reed Bunting," and the 

 most mysterious and incomprehensible, "Toad- 

 snatcher." Why this latter extraordinary name 

 should have been betowed on the pretty subject of 

 this sketch, I am at a loss to understand, its acquain- 

 tance with those ungainly reptiles being doubtless 

 limited to an occasional glimpse of the " father of 

 a family," as he pops his ugly " phiz " above water, 

 to take in a view of things in general. 



About the middle of May, if business or pleasure 



Fig. 25. Riverside or Black-headed Banting {Emberiza schmniculas). 



^perched on a giant bulrush some distance away, 

 serenades you with a weak and most unmusical 

 ghost of a song, accompanying his melody with a 

 self-satisfied jerk or flirt of the tail. Barring that 

 gorgeous flash of green and azure, shooting swift as 

 thought over the rippling stream, — I mean the re- 

 splendent kingfisher,— there is not, among all the 

 smaller feathered denizens of our rivers and brooks, 

 a more beautiful bird, so far as bold and conspicuous 

 colouring is concerned, than the one under our 

 notice. The male bird, with his jet-black head, 

 snow-white collar, and bright chestnut back, exceeds 

 his mate in richness of hue : her plumage, though 

 similar, being much more sombre and common- 



takes you to the vicinity of reed or osier-beds (the 

 favourite haunts of the "Riverside Bunting"), you 

 will, in nine cases out of ten, see the brightly- 

 plumaged male perched high on some bush or small 

 tree, repeating his simple and almost monotonous 

 song with great complacency. As you approach, he 

 takes wing, shooting on ahead with his dipping 

 flight, and seeming anxious to gain your notice 

 and attention. Then, provided his domestic affairs 

 are in a certain critical condition, he will reel and 

 tumble about in full view, evidently wishing to dis- 

 tract attention from everything but himself. Pursue 

 him, and he will continue to amuse you with his 

 well-feigned impersonation of a wounded and help- 



