139 



REED BUNTING.* 



WHITE did not appear to be well acquainted with 

 the note of this species. In our fens, where it is 

 abundant, its simple and inharmonious song, if song 

 it can be called, may be constantly heard during the 

 breeding season ; the cock bird uttering it at short 

 intervals from the top of some low bush, near to 

 where the hen is engaged in incubation. It consists 

 of two long notes, followed by three or four similar 

 but short ones, these last being hurriedly pro- 

 nounced. 



SISKIN.f 



Feb. 15, 1829. SISKINS everywhere plentiful 

 just now. They seem most attached to alders, and 

 hang upon the boughs of those trees with their 

 heads downwards like titmice, whilst endeavouring to 

 get at the seeds of the last year's cones. The crops 

 and stomachs of some individuals which we ex- 

 amined were stuffed quite tight with this kind of 

 food exclusively, nor was there a single seed of any 

 other tree or vegetable to be found. 



These birds are not unfrequent about Bottisham 

 most winters during the months of January and 

 February, but are more numerous this year than 

 usual. 



* Emberiza schamiclus, Linn. t Carduelis spinus, Steph. 



