160 THE SMALLER BRITISE BIRDS. 



toes, and claws pale yellowisli brown; and the beak dark brown ou 

 the upper mandible, and yellowish on the lower. Varieties in colour 

 are not uncommon — Neville Wood possessed the skin of one which was 

 nearly white, and another specimen was found at Pickering, in 1850, 

 cf a pale straw-colour. The female closely resembles the male, but the 

 young birds are rather darker, and the spots upon the feathers larger. 



THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING, 



(Emberiza sc/iaiu'cliis.J 



PLATE X. FIGDKE IV. 



Although the Black-headed Bunting is almost as abundant in this 

 country as its yellow relation next described, it is not nearly so well 

 known, partly on account of its more sequestered habits, and partly 

 because its plumage is less brilliant, and does not so readily attract 

 the eye. It remains in England throughout the year, but is migratory 

 in most parts of Scotland, arriving about the middle of April and de- 

 parting in October. On the Continent of Europe it is a summer 

 visitor to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, and is also found from Russia 

 to Italy, being particularly abundant in Holland. 



This species is called by the several names of the Mountain Sparrow, 

 Passerine Bunting, Ring Bunting, Chink, and Black Bonnet. It also 

 has the titles of Water Sparrow and Reed Bunting, on account of its 

 partiality to marshy spots on the borders of lakes and streams, where 

 the reed, the rush, and the osier flourish. To the wanderer in tho 

 fens of Cambridgeshire or the broads of Norfolk it is a most familiar 

 object, flitting gracefully about among the tall aquatic plants, or 

 clinging to their stems while it picks out their seeds with its short and 

 powerful bill. ''The security and even grace with which it rides,^' says 

 Mudie, "when the stems are laid almost level with the water, now on 

 one side and then on another, are well worthy of notice. It not only 

 adheres as if it were part of the plant, but contrives to maintain nearly 

 the same horizontal position, with its head to the wind." In the 

 winter months these Buntings forsake the marshes and collect in small 

 flocks, visiting farms and stackyards in company with other grain-eating 

 birds. The parties break up again towards the end of March, and 



