52 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Family FRINGILLID^. Genus EMBERIZA. 



Sub-family EMBER1ZIN&. 



CORN BUNTING. 



EMBERIZA MILIARIA, Linnceus. 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



BRITISH BREEDING AREA : Although the Corn Bunt- 

 ing is widely distributed throughout the British Islands, 

 it is decidedly a local bird. It is chiefly a lowland 

 species, and is certainly most common on grain lands 

 and rough pastures in maritime districts. It is found 

 breeding most abundantly in the southern counties of 

 England, becoming rarer and more local in the northern 

 districts. In Scotland it is said to be most frequent in 

 the southern, central, and western districts, reaching the 

 Hebrides, but certainly not St. Kilda. One might just 

 as much expect to find a Red Grouse in a flower-garden 

 as a Corn Bunting in St. Kilda ! It is tolerably well 

 distributed throughout Ireland in suitable localities, but 

 everywhere local. 



BREEDING HABITS : Grain lands, sand dunes, and 

 rough pastures are the favourite breeding-haunts of the 

 Corn Bunting. It is not improbable that this species 

 pairs for life, for I have known certain fields tenanted 

 year by year for the purpose of nesting. If Corn Bunt- 

 ings are about they soon betray themselves by their 

 monotonous notes, and habit of sitting for hours together 

 on some tall weed or plant, occasionally flying a little 

 way and then returning. The brown plumage of this 

 species and its sluggish habits are very characteristic, 

 and readily assist the observer to its identification. The 

 nest is usually made upon the ground, but in some cases 

 is situated amongst low brambles. Many nests are 

 made on the ground amongst the mowing-grass or 



