188 



THE REED-BUNTING. 



observed in the stackyard at Foulden West Mains about 

 the same time.^ 



The food of the Eeed-Bunting in summer consists 

 chiefly of insects, and in winter it eats the seeds of grass 

 and other plants, as well as grain. 



The nest, which is composed of dry bents lined with 

 hair, is generally built close to the ground, among rank 

 ves;etation or rushes," but I have sometimes found it in 

 low willow bushes in a saugh bog.^ The eggs, which are 

 from four to six in number, are usually of a purple brown 

 colour, spotted or blotched, and streaked with dark brown 

 or black. 



1 Hist. JBer. Nat. Cliib, vol. xi. p. 236. 



2 Mr. Comiston-Lundie, of Spital, showed me a nest with five young amongst 

 rushes, near the lily j^ond at Spital House, on 11th June 1888. 



3 When a boy I used to search for the Coal-Hooden's nest iu a saugh bog 

 near the Under Kilns at Salton, East-Lothian, and occasionally found it there. 

 Its beautiful coffee-coloured eggs were considered " rare." 





^},] 



