CORN-BUNTING. 151 
colour to dull white, and the spots, streaks, and blotches vary from rich 
purplish brown, almost black, to pale brown, and the underlying markings, 
which on some eggs are large and numerous, are violet-grey or greyish 
purple. As before stated, the eggs of this bird vary greatly; but each 
clutch generally partakes of uniform characters. Some eggs are very 
boldly streaked and dotted, and have paler blotches almost over the entire 
surface, others have the mass of markings in a broad band round the 
larger end. On some eggs the ground-colour can scarcely be seen, so 
thick and numerous are the surface-markings ; whilst others more re- 
semble those of the Cirl Bunting, and are only sparingly spotted and 
streaked, chiefly on the large end. Other specimens have most of the 
markings underlying ones, with one or two large irregular masses of 
colour here and there. They vary in length from 1-05 to 87 inch, and 
in breadth from °75 to ‘67 inch. The Corn-Bunting sits very closely, 
and sometimes when disturbed, especially if the nest contain young, will 
flutter round the head of the intruder, or hop anxiously from stem to 
stem. ‘The bird appears to rear only one brood in the year. 
The food of the Corn-Bunting is composed of grain and seeds of 
various kinds, and in summer principally of insects and their larve. Its 
young are almost exclusively fed on small caterpillars and insects. This 
bird may frequently be seen in corn-fields when the grain is nearly ripe, 
where it breaks down the straws by clinging to them, picking out the 
corn upon the ground. In autumn and winter the Corn-Bunting is more 
or less gregarious, and often associates with Sky-Larks and Finches. 
It may at this season be seen in the stackyards clinging to the stacks and 
feeding with the Sparrows. It also frequents the stubbles and wild weedy 
pastures, where it is very often mistaken for a Lark. It will sometimes 
skulk in the close herbage until almost trodden upon, and as it roosts on 
the ground numbers are regularly caught in nets with Larks. Its flight is 
powerful and undulating ; and although the bird seems heavy and clumsy 
in the air, it is capable of flying very long distances. 
In autumn, especially during the latter part of October, our resident 
Corn-Buutings are largely increased in numbers by migratory flocks. In 
some parts of this country the bird is better known in winter than in 
summer. Inthe Shetland Islands Saxby states that it comes in winter 
in flocks ; and he observed that certain birds annually came to the same 
district, by seeing a bird with a white patch of plumage on its back 
amongst them for several winters in succession. The bird is far more 
numerous also in the eastern counties in winter than in summer. 
The Corn-Bunting has the general colour of the upper parts hair-brown 
streaked with dark brown ; the wing-coverts and innermost secondaries are 
dark brown, with broad pale rufous margins; the wings and tail are 
blackish brown, with pale edges; the general colour of the underparts is 
