THE REED BUNTING. 23 



"but in winter they resort to the bushless flats and islands, 

 and are frequently seen in Shetland at that season, though 

 there are none there in the summer. In the flocking season 

 they become very fat ; and the young ones are larger in size 

 than larks, and not inferior in flavour. They are readily 

 caught, and thus often sold for larks ; but they are easily 

 distinguished, by the short conical bill with the palatal knob, 

 or simply by the colour, which is much darker on the under 

 part. 



Common buntings are of considerable service on lands that 

 are not very skilfully cultivated. Their favourite food is the 

 seeds of the stronger grasses ; and these are the most stub- 

 born weeds with which a slovenly farmer has to deal. Their 

 services extend to the hay meadows as well as the corn- 

 fields ; and though they resort less frequently to the pastures, 

 they do some service to these when the coarse grasses have 

 run to seed. In countries where millet and similar small 

 grains are cultivated, they do considerable damage. They get 

 their specific name from their fondness for millet ; and the 

 people of the south of Europe, where grass is less abundant 

 than with us, and small birds more in request as food, fatten 

 them with millet for the table. 



THE REED BUNTING (Mnleriza scliceniclus). 



The reed bunting, sometimes, though improperly, called 

 the reed sparrow, is a bird which has been confounded by 

 authors, if not by observers, with another bird to which it 

 has little other resemblance than their both inhabiting nearly 

 the same places. 



In structure, in habits, in their nests, their eggs, and even 

 in the purpose that takes them to the thickly matted aquatic 

 plants, these birds are quite different. The one already de- 

 scribed is a genuine warbler, having a melodious and varied 

 though feeble song ; as such, it feeds upon insects, resorts to 



