84 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



are speared by the long bill. It rises at first rather 

 clumsily from the ground, but soon assumes a leisurely 

 majestic flight, more rapid than it appears. In flight the 

 legs trail behind note rounded wings. A shy bird. 



Food. Fish, frogs, reptiles, &c., sometimes small 

 mammals and young water-fowl. It is voracious and 

 little comes amiss. 



Nest. February or March. Two broods. 



Site. At the top of some tree, not far from water ; 

 often several nests in one tree. Sometimes on rocks and 

 ruins. Rarely on the ground. 



Materials. Sticks, lined with twigs, grass-sods, moss, 

 wool, &c. A bulky structure. 



Eggs. Three to five. Uniform greenish blue. 



REED BUNTING, ALSO REED SPARROW 



(Emberiza schceniclus). 



Generally distributed. Never found far from rivers 

 or marshy places except when frozen out, when it con- 

 sorts freely and wanders about the country with Finches. 



Plumage. Head, throat, chin, and gorget black ; 

 nape, collar and moustachial streak white ; upper parts 

 variegated with reddish brown and blackish. Tail 

 blackish ; two outer feathers white, conspicuous in 

 flight ; under parts dull white, and streaked with black 

 on flanks. Bill and legs brown. Length 6 in. Female : 

 head reddish brown with dusky spots, white areas less 

 pure. Young, like female. 



Language. Song, a brief performance, and may be 

 rendered " cheo-cheo-chee-chee-chee-chee," ending with 

 a harsh " zshwee," not unlike the Greenfinch's terminal 

 note. Call-note, " tschee." 



Habits. It sings from the top of some reed-stem, and, 

 if disturbed, flies on a few yards, perches again and sings, 

 and so on. Flight slow and rather clumsy. It hops on 

 the ground. 



