Mr. W. Thompson on the Birds of Ireland. 279 



of such humble underwood it nestles. In severe frost and 

 snow, buntings not only betake themselves to the roads for 

 subsistence, but at such times may be seen in the less-fre- 

 quented streets and stable-yards of the town of Belfast. The 

 plumage of this species is very liable to be varied with white 

 or cream-colour, and when with the latter, some examples 

 which I have seen were of a very rich and handsome appear- 

 ance. On opening some of these birds killed in winter, I 

 have generally found them tilled with grain ; — the species is 

 sometimes called the Co7V?-Bunting. 



The Reed or Black-headed Bunting, Emberiza Schoe- 



niciiJus, Linn., 

 Is a resident species distributed over the island, which 

 from the prevailing humidity is peculiarly well suited to it. 

 The reed-bunting is one of those birds which is nowhere 

 numerous, and owing to the places of its abode — among the 

 shrubby underwood and herbage in moist places and at the 

 edge of waters — is not very commonly or popularly known. 

 It is particularly interesting from being an inhabitant of lo- 

 calities in which comparatively few other birds are to be 

 seen : — it has often been highly pleasing to me to observe a 

 few of these birds gathering in to roost for the night upon 

 the exposed roots of alders or willows that overhung the 

 gently-flowing stream, and in a vicinity unsuitable to any of 

 their congeners. Like them, however, reed-buntings will 

 betake themselves during the snow-storm to the public roads 

 for food. 



In different parts of Ireland, the reed-bunting still has 

 the undue reputation of being a sweet songster of the night, 

 and is beheved to be the veritable " Irish Nightingale,^^ a 

 name bestowed on the mysterious bird, be that what it may, 

 which sings through the summer night, but which, in strict 

 justice, may be claimed by the sedge-warbler. Montagu, 

 with his usual acuteness, long since accounted for this error, 

 and in the following words : — " It is somewhat extraordinary 

 that the manners and habits of so common a bird should re- 

 main so long in obscurity ; even modern authors tell us it is 

 a song-bird, that it sings after sunset ; and describe its nest 

 to be suspended over the water, fastened between three or 

 four reeds. There can be no doubt, however, that the nest 

 as well as the song of the sedge-warbler ha^■e been taken 

 and confounded for those of this bird ; for, as they both fre- 

 quent the same places in the breeding-season, that elegant 

 httle warbler is pouring forth its varied notes concealed in 

 the thickest part of a bush; while this is conspicuously 



