BIRDS OF THE FIELD 277 



long grass, and which bends beneath it ; and here 

 it remains to utter its monotonous droning song. 



The Corn Bunting is the largest of the group. It 

 is most numerous in the southern counties of Eng- 

 land, but it is nowhere a very common bird. It 

 usually builds upon the ground, and the four to six 

 eggs are of a purplish-white, streaked or spotted 

 with black or brown. 



The Quail and the Common and Red-legged 

 Partridges are also true field birds. The first is 

 mainlv a summer visitor, although many occur- 

 rences have been noted in winter, and the last is 

 resident since its introduction to this country about 

 a century ago. 



The Common Partridge is now so constantly 

 under the guardianship of man that, like the 

 Pheasant, it can hardly be regarded as other than 

 a semi-domesticated species. Even before it is 

 hatched its welfare is carefully considered, and 

 there can be no doubt that under the restrictions of 

 civilization its original habits are largelv modified. 



But although many birds — the Skylark, Meadow 

 Pipit, Whinchat, Partridge and others — find a 

 nesting place in the long grass, they only use it 

 when occasion serves, and will often select a site 

 elsewhere on bank or heath, or about the whins of 

 the common. One alone is always true to the growl- 

 ing crops, seeking the old fields directly it reaches 

 our shores in late April, rearing its young in their 

 green shade, rarely leaving them even for a moment 

 unless driven thence by the harvesters, or until the 



