14 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



corn, brambles, clover, and peas ; in grass-fields, 

 pastures, clover-fields, and similar places locally 

 distributed throughout the United Kingdom. 



Materials. Straw and coarse hay or grass- 

 stems outside, lined with fibrous roots, fine grass, 

 and sometimes horsehair. 



Eggs. Four to six. The ground-colour varies 

 from dull purplish-white to pale buff, blotched, 

 spotted, and streaked with light to dark purplish- 

 brown, and underlying markings of grey. They 

 are variable in size, but run larger than those of 

 any other Bunting breeding with us. Size about 

 .96 by .71 in. (See Plate II.) 



Time. May and June. Sometimes as early as 

 end of April and as late as July. 



Remarks. Resident, but numbers swollen during 

 winter months by Continental arrivals. Notes : 

 chuck or chit. Local and other names : Common 

 Bunting, Bunting Lark, Ebb. Sits fairly close. 



BUNTING, REED. Also REED SPARROW. 



(Emberiza schoeniclus.) 

 Order PASSERES ; Family EMBERIZID^E (BUNTINGS). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length about six inches. Bill 

 short, conical, and dusky-brown 

 on the upper mandible, lighter 

 on the lower. Irides hazel. Head 

 velvety black, bounded by a white 

 collar, which commences near the 

 gape and, descending the sides of 

 the neck as far as the breast, 

 passes round the back thereof. 

 FEMALE REED BUNTING. Back and wings rich brownish- 



