EMBERIZID^E. 205 



sent it to Mr. Swaysland with some snow buntings, 

 of which species he supposed it to be. I saw and 

 obtained this specimen immediately afterwards. 



SNOW BUNTING, Snowflake or Tawny Bunting, 

 Plectrophanes nivalis. An occasional winter 

 visitor to the Downs. Not unfrequently taken 

 with larks during hard weather, but then generally 

 presenting the plumage of the tawny or immature 

 bird. Out of nearly forty which were captured by 

 one birdcatcher during a single winter 1*847-48 

 only two had the white head, which is charac- 

 teristic of the adult snow bunting. 



COMMON BUNTING, Emberiza miliaria. Provin- 

 cial, Clod bird. Common in open cultivated dis- 

 tricts. Less frequent on the Downs, and very rare 

 in the weald. Plentiful in the neighbourhood of 

 Brighton and Worthing. Its local name would 

 appear to be derived from its habit of perching on 

 a projecting clod of turf or clay in a stubble 

 or fallow field, while it utters its harsh monoto- 

 nous note. 



BLACK-HEADED BUNTING, or Reed Sparrow, 

 Emberiza schceniclus. Peculiar to marshy tracts 

 and sedgy swamps. 



YELLOW BUNTING or Yellow Hammer, Embe- 

 riza citrinella. Generally dispersed. 



CIRL BUNTING, Emberiza cirlus. A very local 

 bird, affecting the neighbourhood of the coast, but 



