THE REED BUNTING 
and summer especially, when this Bunting lives in pairs, 
each seems to annex for its own particular use some 
special length of the stream, and here the birds may be 
seen flitting in a dipping course from one bush to another, 
or clinging to some tall rush or bending reed stem, then 
returning by a détour across the water to their favoured 
haunt. ‘They are wary enough, but not exactly shy, and 
show little inclination to conceal themselves. At intervals 
the male indulges in a monotonous and unmusical sort of 
song, typically Bunting-like in character, and from time 
to time one bird calls to the other in a harsh seeze. ‘The 
food of this Bunting consists of seeds and grain, insects 
and larve, the latter especially of an aquatic nature. 
During the non-breeding season much of this food is 
sought upon stubbles and reed-grown pastures, ricks, 
and in farmyards. It shows some social tendencies, and 
often consorts with other grain and seed-eating birds. 
The breeding season of the Reed Bunting begins in April, 
and continues until June, or even July, two broods being 
reared. ‘The nest is usually made upon or close to the 
ground, often sheltered by a tuft of rushes, or amongst the 
rank vegetation on the banks of the water. It is made of 
dry grass and other scraps of dead vegetation, and lined 
with fine grass, hair, and the flowers of the reeds. ‘The 
five or six eggs range from pale olive to buff in ground 
colour, streaked and spotted with rich brown, paler brown, 
and grey. 
The adult male Reed Bunting is a very pretty little bird, 
having the head and throat coal-black, witha white collar 
and cheeks; the rest of the upper parts is chestnut, 
shading into grey on the rump and upper tail-coverts, 
each feather having a rusty black centre; the wings are 
dark brown, with chestnut margins; the tail is similar 
in colour, but the two centre feathers are like the back, 
and the two outermost on each side are marked with 
white on the outer webs. ‘he under parts are white, 
147 
