CORN BUNTING. 131 



our village, who used to tell us that he had ' a wheezing 

 in his pipes.' " 



Mr. Thompson's observations of this bird in Ireland 

 correspond with those of Gilbert White, who says that 

 " in our woodland districts it is a rare bird ;" it is 

 rather a denizen of the open fields, and of the bare 

 arable land, and is sometimes found in the vicinity of 

 large potato gardens. It often sings in winter, espe- 

 cially if near the sea, as at Tramore, where I have 

 often observed it. I was surprised to hear it singing 

 not long since at the North Lotts, close to the 

 North Wall, Dublin, and not far from the starting- 

 place of the Holyhead steamers. Poor though the 

 song of the Bunting undoubtedly is, to my mind it 

 is always suggestive of the country, its peace and quiet, 

 as opposed to the hurry and turmoil of city life ; and 

 thus it is to me a pleasant sound. 



The Bunting is a grain-eating bird. Mr. Thompson 

 has, however, also found in its stomach the seeds of 

 weeds, in addition to which were fragments of stone ; 

 insects and larvae are also eaten when procurable. The 

 Bunting has much of the Lark about it, and often 

 roosts on the ground in stubble-fields ; it does not, 

 however, run, but hops. It apparently produces but 

 one brood in the year. 



The nest is always on or very near the ground, and is 

 lined with hair. The eggs, four or five in number, are 

 of a dull white ground, with dark purple spots and 

 streaks. 



