BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 439 



The contrast afforded by the bhxck head of this bird as 

 opposed to the white collar on the neck, and the varied co- 

 lours of the back, give it an agreeable and inviting appear- 

 ance, and it is accordingly a favourite with many. If suitable 

 localities are visited, the male during the breeding season 

 may be seen perched on a conspicuous spray, amusing his 

 mate and himself with his song for an hour together ; this 

 consists of an interchange of two or three notes, which, how- 

 ever, have nothing particular to recommend them. His habit 

 and his sonff are somewhat similar to those of the Com- 

 mon Bunting and the Yellow Bunting ; but the song of the 

 latter is perhaps a little better in quality of tone. The nest 

 is generally placed on the ground among coarse long grass or 

 rushes, at the foot of a thorn, or on the side of a canal bank; 

 sometimes, but rarely, in a low bush, the nest being placed a 

 short distance only above the ground, perhaps but a few inches. 

 It is composed of a little moss with coarse grass, lined with 

 finer grass and hairs. The nest of this bird has been described 

 by some authors as made of grass, lined with the soft down of 

 the reed, and suspended between four reed stalks, thus appa- 

 rently referring to the nest of the Reed Warbler as figured at 

 page 273 ; but by comparison it will be found that the nest of 

 the Black-headed Bunting does not agree with that of the 

 Reed Warbler either in materials or situation. The bird itself 

 has also been stated to put forth a soft, melodious, warbling 

 song, which is frequently heard in the night : this is a just 

 estimate of the powers and habits of the Reed Warbler and 

 the Sedge Warbler, but not of the Black-headed or Reed 

 Bunting, and as the term Reed Bunting may have helped to 

 induce and extend the confusion, it would probably be desira- 

 ble to use in preference the name of Black-headed Bunting. 



Both sexes of this bird endeavour to allure intruders from 

 their nest. Mr. Salmon of Thetford says,* " Walking last 



* Loudon's Magazine of Natural History, vol. viii. p. 505, for the year 1835. 



