262 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



Subfamily, EMBERIZIN^E (Buntings). 



THE CORN-BUNTING 



(Emberiza miliaria). 

 Plate 87. 



The Corn-Bunting is distributed in varying abundance 

 over the greater part of the British Isles, even to the 

 most northerly of the Shetlands. In some regions it is 

 rather local, and from the bleak mountainous districts in 

 the interior of Wales and Scotland it is practically 

 absent. In winter the birds band together in small 

 parties to some extent, and there is a general movement 

 towards the milder parts of the coimtry. At the same 

 time there is a considerable influx of oversea migrants. 



The Corn-Bunting may be considered as the type of 

 the second subfamily of the Finch group. At least 

 two kinds of Buntings must be familiar to every 

 reader, and the more characteristic points of their 

 appearance and habits do not require to be dwelt upon. 



The present species is of rather sober plumage, and 

 might readily be taken for a Lark by the novice. The 

 large, conical ' seed "* bill is an obvious point of difference. 

 As its name implies, the Corn-Bunting frequents agricul- 

 tural land, nesting in a hollow in the ground, well hidden 

 by the corn or herbage. In such places a bird of its 

 dull plumage and rather retiring habits would naturally 

 attract little notice ; but the male Bunting becomes 

 prominent by his fondness for the roadside telegraph- 

 wires and other conspicuous perches in the neighbour- 

 hood of his haunts. Sitting there, he utters over and 

 over again a short, monotonous song entirely lacking in 

 musical merit. Like the even more familiar song of the 



