THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 67 



moie sharp. It also utters a sharp twitter if compelled 

 suddenly to take to flight. 



In building the nest, dry grasses, parts of fine rushes, 

 and dried bents of hay are used, the interior being comfort- 

 ably and neatly lined with reed-down, thin stalks, moss, or 

 hair. The nest is generally placed on or near the ground, 

 and usually close to the water's edge, amongst coarse 

 grass or sedges, and occasionally in the lowest parts of 

 some convenient bush. 



Four or five eggs are laid, about the early part of May , 

 they vary in the colour of the ground tints, being some- 

 times a pale purplish brown, and at other times purply 

 white, greenish, and brownish ; they are prettily streaked 

 and spotted with darker shades of the same colour. 



The Black-head?d Bunting, like many larger and more 

 pretentious birds, is credited with a strong anxiety for the 

 safety of its young, and has been known to adopt various 

 stratagems and ruses to divert the attention of the too 

 curious and intrusive visitor. 



The length of this bird is about six inches, perhaps a 

 little more ; the bill is dusky brown, and from the base a 

 white streak passes backwards to the white collar which 

 surrounds the neck. The sides and top of the head are a 

 rich velvety black, bounded by a white collar which comes 

 down to the breast. In the fall of the year, and until the 

 following spring, these white feathers become shaded with 

 grey, and the black ones have brownish tips. Chin and 

 throat black, ending in a downward point. Breast, a dull 

 bluish-white, darker towards the sides, and streaked with 

 brown. Back, a blackish colour, the feathers being bor- 

 dered with reddish -brown, and mingled with grey. After 

 the autumn moult all these markings become more or less 



