128 OUR IRISH SONG BIRDS. 



REED BUNTING. 



Emberiza schcenidus ; Bruant des roseaux ; Rohrammer. 



Reed Sparrow ; Blackcap ; Chink ; Black-headed 

 Bunting ; Water Sparrow. 



Beak, legs, and claws, brown ; head, throat, gorget, 

 and ear-coverts, black, with white collar beneath ; back 

 and wing-coverts, black ; breast and under-wing coverts, 

 yellowish-white ; tail, slightly forked. The female has 

 reddish-brown on the head, where the male has black, 

 and the white collar is less distinct. Length, six inches. 



If the Corn Bunting has but little song, the Reed 

 Bunting has even less. I have never heard more from 

 it than a monotonous " sherrip," as Meyer calls it a 

 chirp of two notes, twice pronounced, and followed by a 

 somewhat more rapid and sharper " chirp, chirp," the 

 bird sitting in the same position for a long time a 

 habit often noticed in its brethren, the Corn and Yellow 

 Bunting. I cannot agree with Mr. WitcheH's version of 

 this song, which in my opinion usually runs thus 

 " sherp, sherp, sherp sisi." The " sisi" seems to belong 

 more or less to all Buntings. Although the Reed Bunt- 

 ing is so indifferent a songster, he gets credit frequently 

 for the performance of the Sedge Warbler, whose varied 

 song may be heard, as he hides low down in the sedges, 

 whilst the Bunting overhead is supposed to be the 

 songster. 



The Reed Bunting is, however, a very handsome and 

 elegant bird ; its black head and white collar have a 

 pleasing appearance as it flits about amongst the reeds, 



