ta COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



BUNTING, REED. (R. Buntings.) 



Size. Sparrow. 



Colour. Head and throat black, cheeks and a collar 

 round neck white. Upper parts reddish-brown streaked 

 with black, lower back and rump greyish. Outer tail 

 feathers white. Under parts white with black streaks 

 on sides. The female is not so black about the head. 



Note. Has a slight song, short and often repeated. 



Distinguishing Feature. The black on the head and 

 the white collar. The white in tail showing, con- 

 spicuously in flight. 



Nest. In tussocks of rough grass or rushes. Dried 

 grass, lined hair. 



Eggs. Pinkish- white, with streaks and spots of dark 

 chocolate-brown. 



Haunts. Side of streams or lakes. 



BUNTING, YELLOW. (R. Buntings.) 



Size. Sparrow. 



Colour. Male : head and upper breast yellow with 

 greenish markings. Upper parts chestnut-brown, with 

 dark centres to feathers, lower back and rump light 

 chestnut. Outer tail-feathers white. Female : greenish- 

 brown with darker markings, lower back and rump 

 chestnut. 



Note. A rather monotonous song, continually re- 

 peated, supposed to resemble ' A little bit of bread 

 and no cheese,' the last two syllables long drawn out. 



Distinguishing Feature. The yellow or yellowish - 

 green on the head, chestnut on rump, and white feathers 

 in tail showing during flight. The only other British 

 bird showing so much yellow on the head and chest is 

 the Ray's Wagtail, but in that bird the back is pale 

 grey ; besides which the general form and carriage of 

 the two birds is very different. Often seen flitting 

 down the hedgeside in front of you as you walk along 

 the road. 



Nest. In hedgebank or bottom of hedge, lined 

 horsehair. 



Eggs. Pale pinkish-white with long streaks and a 

 few spots of deep brown, looking as if they had been 

 scribbled over with a pen, hence the name ' Writing 

 Lark.' 



Haunts. Hedges. Rickyards in winter. 



