130 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



few places come sounding from the reeds, " like 

 a little silver bell," which sends its clear ringing 

 tones far away over the gi-assy meadow; and the 

 meny hm'ried song of the Marsh Titmouse [Pariis 

 palustris) falls there upon the ear. Here, too, the 

 black-headed Reed Bunting [Emheriza sclioeniclus) 

 comes in company with many of its fellows, to seek 

 its food and rear its young among the reeds and 

 long grasses of the stream, and sings its song as if 

 in too gi-eat a hurry to enunciate it fully. It is 

 often said to be one of our few night singers, but 

 we cannot claim for it this distinction; and it is 

 probable that the notes of the sedge warbler, heard 

 during night from the reeds, have been mistaken 

 for those of the bunting. But it is no gi*eat 

 singer at the best of times, and only deserves a 

 slight mention in our enumeration of singing birds. 



