162 THE BUNTINGS 



leaves, etc., lined with finer grasses and generally horse-hair. It is con- 

 structed by both sexes (E. Selous), but to what extent the male participates is 

 uncertain. The eggs, 4-5, sometimes only 3, in number, have the ground colour 

 usually pale bluish or greenish white, and the streaks bolder and blacker than 

 in the yellow-bunting. Occasionally, however, the eggs of the two species 

 are barely distinguishable. (PL B.) Average size of 100 eggs, -83x-63 in. 

 [21 '13 x 16'11 mm.]. Laying begins in May. Incubation lasts about a fortnight. 

 In four cases observed by X. Raspail it lasted 12| days (Ornis., 1902-3, pp. 147- 

 154). It is performed by the hen, relieved, at least occasionally, by the cock, for 

 in one case I have flushed the latter from the nest. Second broods may be found 

 in July and even August. [F. c. R. j.] 



5. Food. Seeds of grasses, cereals, and other plants form the greater part. 

 The nestlings are fed on insects, notably grasshoppers, but also moths and others, 

 probably by both sexes. [A. L. T.] 



6. Song Period. Not fully ascertained, but is much the same as that of 

 the yellow-hammer (E. Selous, in litt. ; British Birds, i. 372. C. J. and H. G. 

 Alexander). 



REED-BUNTING [Emberiza schceniclus (Linnaeus). Reed- or water- 

 sparrow, blackcap, blackheaded-bunting. French, briiant des roseaux ; 

 German, Rohrammer ; Italian, migliarino di padule]. 



i. Description. Recognised by the black head and throat, intersected by 

 a white stripe running obliquely backwards from the base of the bill to the white 

 collar ; also by the ash-grey rump, tinged and striped with brown. (PL 19.) 

 The mantle feathers are chiefly dull black, broadly margined rich chestnut. Rump 

 grey, washed with rufous and faintly striated, the under parts white, flanks striated 

 with brown, the outermost tail feather white with dusky lanceolate patch on outer 

 urb ; the penultimate, black with a white blaze 011 inner urb, two middle feathers 

 dusky with pale ochreous margins. Marginal wing-coverts rich chestnut red, median 

 dull black with broad chestnut-red tips. Major coverts and secondaries black, with 

 broad outer margins of ochreous brown. Length 6 in. [152 mm.]. In the hen the 

 black of the head and throat is obscured by long tawny edges to the feathers, the 

 ear-coverts dark brown with a white stripe below and above, the throat dull white 

 encircled by a horse-shoe band of black. Median wing-coverts chestnut. The 

 breast is also more striated than that of the male. After the autumn moult the 

 male has the black of the head and throat obscured by tawny fringes to the feathers. 



