10 



finches is principally supplied. It is a bird of 

 retired habits, and does not associate with other 

 denizens of the air, but is generally seen in pairs 

 or families of five or six. During the spring 

 it is particularly destructive to the buds of fruit 

 trees. Its loosely built nest, which is formed 

 of small twigs and fibrous roots, is generally found 

 in a low tree or thick bush. The eggs, four or 

 five in number, are of a light blue, speckled with 

 orange, arid with brown and purple streaks. 



BUNTING, BLACK-HEADED, OE EEED. 



EEED SPAREOW. 

 EMBEBTZA SCH(E:NTCLTJS, Lin. 



Birds of this species frequent fens and marshy 

 places, where there are abundance of reeds and 

 rushes. The female is destitute of the black head 

 and white ring round the neck, which distinguish 

 the male, the head, neck, and back being streaked 

 with plain rusty brown lines, from which it has 

 no doubt acquired the name of Eeed Sparrow. 

 An error has been very generally entertained 

 regarding this bird. It has been asserted that it 

 has a melodious song, a circumstance from which 

 it has been confounded with the Eeed and Sedge 

 Warblers. The nest of the Black-headed Bunting 

 is composed of dried grass and moss, lined 



