BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 227 



THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING, 



OR REED-BUNTING. 



EMBERIZA SCHCENICLUS; LINNiEUS. ^l'oRTO- 



LAN DES ROSEAUX; BUFFON. 



The favourite haunts of this beautiful bird are 

 fens, bogs, and marshes, where, among reeds and 

 bulrushes, it forms its nest. It was formerly said 

 to be a fine song-bird ; but modern writers allege 

 this assertion to have originated from its being 

 mistaken for the sedge-warbler: And Montagu 

 declares, " that the reed-bunting has no song 

 worthy of notice, but that it consists of two sharp 

 notes three or four times repeated, which it con- 

 tinues for a length of time, and, when alarmed by 

 a sportsman, or a dog, it utters a harsh incessant 



