BRITISH SOlsTG-BIRDS. HT 



and small stalks of reeds, and lined with fine grass 

 and hair. The eggs, from four to six in nmnber, are 

 of a pale, dingy, yellowish-grey, inclining to hair- 

 brown, and mottled with hair and broccoli-brown 

 spots. Though this is a wild, timid, and shy bird, 

 we have had its nest not a gunshot from the vil- 

 lage of Bell's Mills, about a mile from Edinburgh. 

 Mantagu says — "The song of this bird has been er- 

 roneously given to the reed-bunting by various 

 authors, whereas that bird has no notes that de- 

 serve the name of song." But, with deference to 

 that accm-ate ornithologist, we know the reed- 

 bunting sings very sweetly, though soft and low ; 

 not unlike some of the low notes of the grey lin- 

 net. Montagu adds : — " While this little warbler, 

 concealed in the thickest part of a bush, is heard 

 aloud, the bunting is perched on the upper branches, 

 and therefore thought to be the song-bird; and 

 thus their songs have been confounded." But we 

 have frequently heard and seen the reed-bunting 

 in low hedges, where we have had their nests, and 

 where we never either heard or saw a sedge-war- 

 bler; besides, their notes are very unlike each 

 other. But it is quite correct, that, if it (the sedge- 

 warbler,) is silent, a stone thrown into the bush 

 will set it a-singing instantly. 



It feeds on dragon-flies, may-flies, or ephemerae, 



