88 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



type ; the ground varies from purplish white to brown, and the 

 streaks and spots are as a rule bolder but sparser than on the 

 Ggg of the Yellow Hammer. 



The male in breeding dress is a handsome bird with his 

 black head and throat and the white streak from the bill joining 

 his snowy collar. His upper parts are mostly warm brown to 

 chestnut, and the dark centres of the feathers form decided 

 streaks. The outer tail feathers have broad white margins, 

 very conspicuous when he is balancing on a swaying stem, dis- 

 playing before the hen, or squattering to attract attention from 

 the nest. Beneath he is whitish, streaked with brown on the 

 flanks. His bill, legs and irides are brown. Buff feather tips 

 obscure the black and dull the plumage generally after the 

 autumn moult. The female, a smaller bird, has a reddish head 

 and no black on the breast ; she has a brown streak on either 

 side of her dull white chin ; a buff eye-stripe and streaks on 

 a buff' throat further distinguish her from her mate. The 

 young closely resemble her. Length, about 6 ins. Wing, 3 ins. 

 Tarsus, "8 in. 



Large-billed Reed-Bunting. Emheriza palusfris Savi. 



Two examples of the southern European Large-billed Reed- 

 Bunting, and one of the form occurring in south-east Europe, 

 E.p. tschusii, Reiser and Aim., have been obtained in Kent and 

 Sussex. The bird is greyer on the back but the size of the bill 

 is the main distinction from our bird, and it is larger in the 

 western than the eastern form. The B.O.U. Committee accept 

 the history of these birds, two of which were killed in spring, 

 but their occurrence can only be looked upon as purely 

 accidental. Length, about 7 ins. Wing, 3-25 ins. Tarsus, '8 in. 



