152 BRITISH BIRDS 



among the reeds and aquatic herbage and willows and alders growing 

 on the margins of streams and marshes. It is widely distributed, 

 and, where suitable localities exist, may be looked for with some 

 confidence. In most districts it is known as the reed-sparrow, and 

 in its colouring and general appearance it is undoubtedly more 

 sparrow-like than the other buntings. From its black head, which 

 is very conspicuous by contrast with the white collar, it is often 

 called the black-headed bunting, a name which more properly be- 

 longs to a continental species to be noticed later on as an acci- 

 dental visitor to this country. The male is a persistent singer in 

 the spring months, and, perched near the top of a reed, or on the 

 topmost branch of an alder tree, he will repeat at intervals his slight 

 reedy song of four or five notes, the last somewhat prolonged. If 

 disturbed, he will fly a little distance ahead and perch again ; and 

 this action he will repeat two or three times if followed up ; then, 

 doubling back, he will return to the first spot. He is a sprightlier 

 bird than the other buntings. The slender reed-stems he perches on, 

 which bend and sway beneath the slightest weight, have taught him 

 easier and more graceful motions, although in that respect he can- 

 not compare with the bearded tit. 



The nest is made near the water, on or close to the ground, under 

 a bush or bunch of rushes, and is composed of dry grass and leaves 

 and stems of aquatic plants, and lined with fibrous roots and horse- 

 hair. The eggs are four or five in number, in ground-colour dull white 

 or grey, spotted and streaked with purplish brown and dull grey. 



The reed-bunting remains in this country all the year, but in 

 severe weather leaves the wet, low ground, and is then seen among 

 the flocks of mixed finches in fields and in the neighbourhood of 

 farmhouses. 



Snow-Bunting. 

 Plectrophanes nivalis. 



Head, neck, portion of the wings and under parts white ; upper 

 parts black, tinged here and there with red. In winter the white 

 of the head and the black on the back mixed with reddish brown. 

 Female : the white on the head and upper parts mottled with dusky, 

 and her colours not so pure. Length, six inches and three-quarters. 



The snow-bunting, or snowflake, as it is also called, breeds regu- 

 larly in some localities in the Highlands of Scotland, and may there- 



