YELLOW BUNTING REED BUNTING. 87 



In winter small numbers of this species congregate with 

 flocks of chaffinches and linnets, and, when forced by the 

 severity of the weather, take up a residence for a short time 

 in the streets of the suburban districts. The yellowhammer 

 manifests the greatest anxiety when the neighbourhood of the 

 nest is approached, and at such times is seen to the best ad- 

 vantage, hovering about the vicinity with the tail feathers 

 fanned out and extended, uttering those cries which a Scotch 

 naturalist has imagined to resemble the words, " deil, deil, 

 deil," take ye (that is, the nesters). The nest is generally a 

 loose, careless structure, placed against a bank, or bottom of 

 a hedge. 



Indigenous. 



SPECIES 84 THE REED BUNTING. 



Emberiza schceniculus. Linn. 

 Bruant de roseaux. Temm. 

 Reed Sparrow. Blackcap. 



THE REED BUNTING is the most beautiful in its plumage, 

 and also the smallest and most elegantly formed of the genus. 

 Differing considerably in its habits, it frequents the vicinity 

 of reeds and sedge, or those hedges overhanging fences filled 

 with moisture. When observed in such localities, the reed 

 bunting is a handsome species ; its black head and white collar 

 rendering it conspicuous at a considerable distance, which 

 appearance, joined to its habit of perching on some twig for 

 hours with the same pertinacity of purpose, whilst it continues 

 its call-note (equally remarkable as the others for sameness), 

 renders it a species well known where occurring. Exhibit- 

 ing when the nest is approached, the same anxiety as the 

 yellow bunting, the appearance of the male and female is 

 often very beautiful, their expanded tail showing the white 

 margin feathers as they remain momentarily hovering in the 

 air, displaying anxiety and terror for their young. 



The eggs of the reed bunting are very curious, presenting 

 a black mottled appearance, so very deep in intensity of 

 colouring as if they had been splashed with ink. Other va- 

 rieties are veined with black, similar to those of the yellow 

 bunting. 



Frequenting similar situations as the sedge warbler, the 

 reed bunting has, on many occasions, received the credit due 

 to that bird for its midnight song. Some years since, in 

 the " Dublin Penny Journal," a woodcut of the reed bunting 

 appeared, to which was appended the name of " night singer," 

 with a long description of the melodious song of the bird. 



