186 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



rises from the spot, wlien most frequently it will be 

 found to flutter away as if wounded, with one wing 

 trailing on the ground, to decoy the intruder from its 

 nest. Through the term reed-bunting, frequently applied 

 to this bird, it seems to have been erroneously con- 

 founded with the reed-warbler (Salicaria strepera), to 

 which it has no possible resemblance, and even the 

 nest of the reed-warbler, suspended on the reeds, has 

 been assigned to the black-headed bunting. To any one 

 at all acquainted with the habits and appearance of the 

 two species ; with the marked difference in the con- 

 struction and position of their nests, and the perfect 

 dissimilarity in the colour and markings of their eggs — 

 it must appear ahnost incredible that so palpable a 

 mistake could ever have arisen. There is, however, in 

 Martin's "Introduction to the Study of Birds,""^ (in 

 many respects a clever little elementary work on general 

 ornithology,) a very pretty illustration of the reed- 

 warbler's nest, with a pair of hlack-lieaded huntings in 

 full possession ! In the aviary this species is both 

 striking in plumage and extremely inoffensive in disposi- 

 tion. The change from the mottled head of the winter 

 season to the rich black of the smnmer, seems to com- 

 mence rather early, the brown tips beginning to dis- 

 appear by the end of January, though some weeks 

 elapse before the whole is completed. Pied and buff 

 varieties are occasionally met with, and the eggs vary 

 considerably. 



As before remarked, so intimately connected is the 

 black-headed bunting with the whole district of the 

 broads, that I can scarcely find a more appropriate 

 place in this work, for a slight sketch of one of the 

 prettiest at least, if not one of the largest, of those 

 attractive localities. In my notes on the habits of the 

 reed- warbler (8. stre^era) I have attempted to describe 



* Published by the Keligious Tract Society. 



