REED BUNTING. 129 



and even its monotonous song is not unpleasurable to 

 the lover of Nature. 



The bird can hardly be said to be plentiful. When a 

 boy I constantly observed it at the Kilbarry marches, 

 near the city of Waterford ; lately I have seen it at 

 Portmarnock and Mulhuddart, and on the river banks 

 at Dundalk ; but it is by no means common anywhere. 

 In winter it may sometimes be seen with Chaffinches, 

 Greenfinches, &c., in the stable-yard, or with Wagtails in 

 the sheep-folds, seeking warmth and food. In happier 

 times the Reed Bunting lives on insects, larvae, and the 

 seeds of aquatic plants. From what has been said it is 

 evident that this elegant and unobtrusive bird is not 

 commonly known, indifferent observers often confound- 

 ing it with the Stonechat or even the Sparrow, whilst 

 others with as little reason dignify it with the title of 

 Blackcap, and " Irish Nightingale." 



The nest is generally placed on the ground in some 

 marshy situation, and is composed of grasses, fragments 

 of rushes, &c. The eggs, four or five in number, are 

 pale brown, with purple spots and tracings. The male 

 bird shares the task of incubation with the female. Mr. 

 Ussher says that " birds that have young, especially the 

 males, will spread themselves out on the ground, like 

 pen-wipers, to divert attention." 



K 



