THE COMMON, OR CORN BUNTING. 217 



Attractive Qualities. The song of the male is shorter and 

 less sweet than that of the Yellowhammer, and may be ex- 

 pressed hy the following syllables, Tei, Tei, Tei, Tirritz ! From 

 the harshness with which the last is given, this bird has ac- 

 quired, in some parts of the country, the "name of the Stocking- 

 weaver. 



ADDITIONAL. With us this bird is a permanent resident, and 

 in many parts of the country extremely plentiful ; "it fre- 

 quents," says MACGILLIVRAY, " open pastures, grass, and corn- 

 fields, and in its distribution seems peculiar to cultivated land 

 or its vicinity, scarcely ever appearing on moors or mountain 

 pastures. It is more abundant in the outer Hebrides than any 

 other part of the country that I have visited, and there, is gene- 

 rally known by the name of the Sparrow. Towards the end of 

 autumn, these Buntings collect into small flocks, and search the 

 stubble for seeds of various kinds, especially oats and wheat. 

 Frequently at this season they sit close, like the Larks, and al- 

 low a person to come near before they fly off; but for the most 

 part they are shy, and not easily approached. In winter, espe- 

 cially in cold or boisterous weather, they appear near houses, 

 and mingle in the stack yards with the Sparrows, Yellow Bunt- 

 ings, and Larks, and other small birds ; but they are not so gre- 

 garious as these species, and are very seldom met with in large 

 flocks. Their flight is strong, capable of being long protracted, 

 undulated, being performed by alternate beatings and cessations, 

 but heavier and more steady and direct than that of the Yellow 

 Bunting. When surprised in a field, or roused from a corn- 

 yard, they fly off with a direct rapid motion ; but often when an 

 individual, which has been resting on a twig or wall -top, starts 

 away, it allows its feet to hang for a short time before it com- 

 mences its bounding flight. I believe there is no other bird of 

 the order with us that has this habit. * * * * 



" The song of this Bunting, such as it is, may be heard occa- 

 sionally at all seasons, especially in calm weather, but during the 

 breeding time it is more frequent, and then the male, perched on 

 a wall, a stone, a twig, or a tall herbaceous plant, especially a dock 

 or a bur, continues to utter at short intervals his singular cry, 

 which, although not loud, extends to a great distance." 



KNAPP, in his Journal of a Naturalist, thus describes a de- 

 structive habit which he considers is peculiar to this bird. " In 

 the winter season it will frequent the stacks in the farm-yard, in 

 company with others, to feed upon any corn that may be found 

 scattered about ; but little inclined to any association with man, 

 it prefers those situations which are most lonely and distant from 



