19; 

 EMBERIZA SCHCENICLUS. 



Syst. Nat. 311. 



~ THE REED-SPARROW. 



PLATE XIX. 



X he bill is straight, sharp-pointed, of a dusky yellow 

 colour, and has a rising angle on each side of the lower 

 chap. 



The eyes are brown, having a narrow circle of white 

 downy feathers round them. 



The head of the cock is black. The cheeks brown 

 red. Round the neck is a white ring, which takes its 

 rise at the angles of the mouth on each side. The back 

 is of a tawny brown, with a black line down the middle 

 of each feather. About the rump there is a mixture of 

 ash-colour with the brown. The quills are of 2ifuscus 

 brown, with rust-coloured edges. The first and second 

 covert feathers of a fuscus black, with broader edges, 

 and tips of a rust-colour. The chin and throat in the 

 male are black, the breast and belly white. On the 

 sides, the middle of the feathers are dusky. 



The tail is a little forked. It consists of twelve 

 feathers, of which the middle two are black, with red 

 edges ; the three next, on each side, are dusky, with red 

 edges ; the fifth is white on the out border, and the 

 sixth wholly white. 



The hen has no black on the head or throat, and the 

 general hue of her feathers is paler and duller than that 

 of thq cock. 



The cock sings pleasantly. His voice, as well as his 

 notes, are much finer and more pleasing than those of 

 any other bird of the same family. 



