REED BUNTING. 209 



species is contained in the Allan MS. of the Tunstall Museum, 

 1791 (Fox's " Synopsis," p. 206), where it is alluded to as 

 being called the " Nettle Monger." 

 Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : 



Embertza schceniclus. Black-headed Bunting Is met with occa- 

 sionally along the sedgy margins of the canals and old brooks near 

 Barnsley, and seldom more than a few pairs ; breeds on the banks of 

 the river near Halifax, but not very plentifully ; it is met with near 

 Leeds, and is pretty common near Doncaster, Sheffield, and York. 



Owing to its partiality to the vicinity of water and low- 

 growing vegetation on the banks of rivers, canals, and ponds, 

 or the reedy growth on a marsh, the Reed Bunting, or Black- 

 headed Bunting as it is often termed, is local in its distribution. 

 It is found in most parts of the county affording situations 

 suitable for its requirements, and, as may be expected, the 

 low-lying parts of the East Riding, and the inland " carrs," 

 are most favoured by its presence ; in the high reaches of 

 the dales it is scarce or altogether absent. The individuals 

 that breed with us leave in autumn, the sudden desertion of 

 their favourite summer haunts being very noticeable, and 

 their places are filled by immigrants, though numerically 

 the bird is much scarcer during the cold season. About the 

 end of March, or the beginning of April, the nesting pairs 

 return to their breeding quarters. During the winter months 

 Reed Buntings, in the dull winter dress, are generally found 

 in the vicinity of stackyards or stubble fields, consorting at 

 times with the common finches and buntings, or are to be 

 seen in small flocks frequenting the rank vegetation near water. 



In September and October numbers of immigrants appear 

 on our coast, these movements usually corresponding with 

 " rushes " at Heligoland. On 22nd September 1881, several 

 were recorded on migration, in conjunction with Chiffchaffs 

 and Whitethroats (Third Migration Report, p. 25). 



The nests in the Holderness district of the East Riding 

 are often built in the lower branches of hawthorn bushes, 

 or, according to Mr. T. Fetch, on the top of the drain banks, 

 which latter is a departure from the bird's usual nidification 

 habits ; and Mr. James Backhouse records one at York 

 VOL. i. p 



