CORN-BUNTING. 149 
during winter, whence it probably migrates to Central Europe to breed. 
It is a resident in Palestine, Asia Minor, and North Persia, as far south as 
Shiraz. The Corn-Bunting has no very near ally, nor does it exhibit any 
important variation in the. colour of its plumage, except that British 
examples are usually somewhat dingy. In the extreme southern and 
eastern portions of its range, where the climate is tropical in summer, the 
general colour is slightly more sandy than in examples inhabiting wetter 
districts. The difference, however, is not of sufficient importance to con- 
stitute a desert form, and is so slight as to be scarcely worthy of notice. 
The Corn-Bunting has little in its appearance to attract the attention ; 
its notes, though peculiar, are not very musical, and as the bird is not 
very active it is easily overlooked. This is not because it is retiring, but 
because it is unobtrusive. It is a resident bird in our islands, and the 
haunts it prefers are the breezy fields and open corn-lands. It may be seen 
commonly in the richer and well-cultivated districts inland, on the semi- 
waste grounds bordering the moors, and is very abundant on seaside 
farms. 
The Corn-Bunting is essentially a bird of the steppes. The mountains 
have no charm for it; nor does it care for the forests. It is commonest 
on the wide open plains, which have not inaptly been called the ‘‘ granaries 
of Europe.” On many of these steppes you may travel for hundreds of 
miles without seeing a tree, although the soil is very deep and rich, and 
wheat and other grain is cultivated in unlimited quantities. In localities 
such as these it is often, next to the various species of Larks, the commonest 
bird; consequently in our islands it is somewhat local, comparatively few 
districts being sufficiently open or fertile to suit it. 
This bird is by no means shy, and will almost invariably allow you to 
approach sufficiently near to identify it beyond a doubt; but its presence 
is usually first betrayed by its peculiar song, and the bird may soon be 
detected in a conspicuous place perched on the top of some tall plant or 
low bush, or perhaps on a wall or telegraph-wire. The song is uttered 
either as the bird sits but little concerned at your approach, or as it takes 
a slow laboured flight into the air to another bush or stump. It is a very 
monotonous strain, but may, from the favourable position in which it is 
uttered, rather than from its loudness, be heard at a considerable distance. 
It is rather short, and I can best express it by tees, tees, tees, tis-is-is-s-s- 
r-r-re. It is uttered apparently with great difficulty, and sounds as if the 
bird were trying to sing with its bill closed. It is somewhat harsh, and puts 
you in mind, as Mr. Gray remarks, of the jingling of a chain or the sound 
of breaking glass. This simple song is most pertinaciously kept up. 
Every few minutes the bird sings, and then waits as if to listen to its rivals, 
then warbles again, often sitting for an hour or more on one perch. The 
ordinary call-note of this bird is very loud, and resembles the word ¢zit ; 
