254 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



The common or Corn Bunting [Emheriza milia- 

 ria), which remains also witli us throughout the 

 year, and is a very common bird, lias still fewer pre- 

 tensions to musical powers than the yellow ammer ; 

 but dui-ing spring and summer its liarsh notes 

 often reacli our ear as they are uttered when pcrclied 

 on the top of tlie liedge, or on a low tree, or while 

 flyhig from bough to bough. It is sometimes 

 rather mir^chicvous, and has been known com- 

 pletely to strip a rick of barley of its thatching, 

 lea\'ing it quite bare of shelter. I'his it did 

 by deliberately pulling out straw by straw, to 

 search for any grain which might liave been left 

 in the car. 



Very similar to the song of the corn bunting is 

 that of the Reed* or Black-headed species [Em- 

 heriza sclimnidus)^ which is sung for an hour or 

 two at a time, to cheer his companion as he sits 

 watching near her perched on some bush, where 



* The Reed Bunting is six inches in length. Head, cheeks, 

 chin, throat, and brexst deep black ; back and wing-covert-^ black 

 with chestnut edges ; the colour separated from the black of the 

 head by a broad collar of white ; tail dark brown with reddish 

 edges, the two outer feathers on each side white ; sides of the 

 breast and under parts white ; beak and feet brown. In the 

 female the black pf the head and throat is wanting. 



