66 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



October, retracing- their journey generally about the 

 following March or April. During the winter months 

 they may always be met with in larger assemblages than 

 during the milder seasons of the year. 



The favourite haunts of the Black-headed Bunting are 

 the rushy sides of slowly running streams, the reed beds 

 in ditches and ponds, and indeed any place where water 

 fringed with tall thickly-growing reeds, grass, or rushes 

 can be found. 



Its habits are active and sprightly ; it seldom remains 

 long in one position, but flits from stalk to stalk, clinging 

 to reeds or rushes, which frequently bend beneath its weight 

 almost to the surface of the water. When disturbed the birds 

 sometimes fly to some distant bend of the stream, but more 

 commonly settle down again quickly amongst the rushes. 

 Some little circumspection is necessary to watch them 

 closely, as they are inclined to be cautious and shy, and do 

 not willingly permit a very close inspection. 



The flight is strong and somewhat undulating, the bird 

 flapping its wings several times in rapid succession; it 

 alights abruptly, and plainly displays at such times the 

 white markings of the tail, which is expanded and closed 

 in a very noticeable manner. Small aquatic insects, flies, 

 and the seeds of the various grasses and plants found in 

 their haunts, constitute the principal articles of their diet. 



The song of the Black-headed Bunting is not very 

 striking, being nothing more than a couple of sharp notes, 

 repeated every now and again, and usually when the bird is 

 swaying up and down upon some reed or osier twig. 

 Meyer describes the "song" as consisting of the syllable 

 " sherrip " pronounced quickly, a mere chirp of two notes, 

 the first repeated three or four times, the last single and 



