174 
VaRieETY. 
Ba ON a NG 
where reeds grow; between four of which it faftens the neft *, 
two or three feet above the water. It is compofed of dry grafs- 
ftalks, and Jined within with the foft down of the reed: the eggs 
are four or five in number, of a blueifh white, marked with irre- 
cular purplifh veins, moft confpicuous at the large end. 
I have now and then feen this bird in hedges on the high 
roads ; but its refort is for the moft part near the water; and it 
is moft likely that it feeds on the feeds of the reed, like the 
Bearded Titmoufe +, as 1 have found the feeds in its ftomach. 
They are fufficiently plenty; but I do not find that they form 
themfelves into flocks of more than fix or eight together. 
With us they remain the whole year; but in fome parts of the 
continent feem migratory. In the province of Lorrain numbers 
are feen pafling on their paffage to other parts, both in fpring 
and autumn {, though fome few ftay there the whole year. The 
extreme limits of their peregrination are between Sweden and 
Italy. : 
In {pring the male fits perched on a reed, and has a pleafing 
kind of warbling fong. It is frequently heard to fing in the 
night, as well as day-time. 
Buffon mentions a bird by the name of Coque/uche ||, which came 
from Sidiria; but I do not-find any thing in the defcription dif- 
fering from our Reed Sparrow, except that it has only a fhort 
* Not at equal diftances, but two and two on each fide, pretty near each 
other, the reft of the neft hanging free. 
+ In Aujiria faid to be fond of millet. — ‘* Viititat feminibus, prafertim 
«* milio.” Kramer, 
} Hift. des oif. {| Id. vol. iv. p. 3z0. 
9 ftripe 
