THE REED -BUNTING. 135 



lias longer and thicker bill, but not so thick as in E. palustris and 

 pyrrhuloides, E. s. pallidior (Baikal) is paler on upper-parts, as is 

 E. s. pyrrhulinus (Japan), which also has a rather thicker bill. 

 Differs from E. palvstris and E. pyrrhuloides in its thin and flattish 

 upper mandible. For differences of E. rustica, E. pusilla and 

 E. leucocephala, see under those species. 



FIELD-CHARACTERS. Black head and throat and white collar of 

 male conspicuous characters, whilst brown head, buff throat, pale 

 buff eye-stripe and white outer tail-feathers (constantly displayed) 

 identify female. Being frequenter of reed-beds and swampy 

 places, is more restricted in habitat than other resident Buntings. 

 First flocks of returning migrants in early spring, often associated 

 with Pied Wagtails and Meadow-Pipits, usually consist of males 

 exclusively. Song a stammering " zip, zip, zizee," uttered 

 apparently with difficulty. Call-note a harsh, long-drawn " tschee." 



BREEDING-HABITS. Breeds generally in marshy ground, in tussocks, 

 osier stumps, etc., on or near ground. Nest. Chiefly bents, a 

 little moss, lined finer grasses, horsehair, sometimes reed-flowers. 

 Eggs. 4 to 5 normally, occasionally 6, rarely 7, ground brownish- 

 olive, occasionally greenish or buff, rarely bluish-white without 

 markings, but normally with few bold streaks and spots deep 

 blackish-brown, and ashy-grey shell-marks. Edges of spots 

 suffused brown. Average of 172 eggs 19.32 X 14.43 mm. Breeding- 

 season. Begins late April, but most eggs laid May. Two or even 

 three broods : fresh eggs in June and July. Incubation. 13-14 

 days, chiefly by hen, but cock also takes part. 



FOOD. Chiefly seeds of marsh plants, grasses, and grain, also 

 small mollusca and Crustacea, and in spring and summer insects 

 and larvae (coleoptera, lepidoptera, neuroptera and hemiptera such 

 as Notonecta glauca). 



DISTRIBUTION. British Isles. Eesident. Generally distributed 

 throughout, but only rare visitor to Shetlands, though in Fair Isle 

 appears to be of double passage ; breeds sparingly Orkneys and 0. 

 Hebrides. 



MIGRATIONS. British Isles. Majority of home-bred birds emigrate 

 Sept. and Oct., and return mid-March to mid- April. Numbers 

 arrive east coast from Continent fourth week Sept. to fourth week 

 Oct. (extremes Sept. 20 to Oct. 26). Many of these spread over 

 the country as winter-visitors, many passing down east coast 

 during October. Return movement late March to mid-May 

 (extremes March 8 to May 28). Southward weather migrations 

 occasionally Dec. to Feb., and emigration from south coast. 

 Occasional records of movement from north coast lights late Oct. 

 and mid-April. Some Irish birds appear to emigrate. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Europe generally, but absent (except on 



