MARSH BUNTING. Ill 



Now as these characteristics only consist in a greater development 

 of parts, and a stronger degree of colour, it may be objected that 

 this is owing to difference in age; that is to say, that the Migliarino 

 di Padule in growing old may acquire the proportions and colours 

 of the Passera di Padule. As far as size and colour are concerned, 

 there would be no difficulty in understanding this, but it is not so 

 easy to account for the difference in the beak, and almost impossible 

 to conceive such a change in the form and dimensions of the masti- 

 catory organs, and such an alteration in the other hones of the face 

 and skull, in the adult age of animals, in whom the consolidation of 

 bone rapidly occurs. But that I might have positive proof, I kept 

 several Heed Buntings in my house for about a year, and, as I had 

 supposed, no change in the form or dimensions of the beak occurred. 

 Besides this, the habits of the two birds prove them to be of different 

 species. Pi. schceniculus lives among bushes, and always remains on 

 ground far from water, feeding upon seeds; while E. palustris is 

 always found established near water, climbing up the reeds, and 

 feeding on the muddy banks of ponds. Then the two species are 

 never found mixed together in the same flock. I have killed as 

 many as ten in the same flock without finding one schceniculus, and, 

 what is worthy of note, without in such a number finding one with 

 the beak of the same size and form as in that bird, which would 

 naturally have been the case, had they been varieties of the same 

 species." 



At page 325 of the third volume, we have also the following in- 

 teresting account of the habits of this bird: — "The Black-headed 

 Bunting is found in Tuscany during the summer, inhabiting watery 

 places covered with reeds. A great number hatch in the marshes of 

 Castiglione, so that in crossing the intricate passages made by the 

 fishermen cutting the reeds, which rise so high as to exclude all but 

 a small portion of sky, the low moaning of the wind is uninterrupted, 

 except by the distant voice of the Tarabugio, (Bittern,) which sounds 

 shrill over the dead water, or the continual croaking of the Passera 

 di Padule, which then remains obstinately hidden. It has a voice 

 similar to the Re?ia esculenta, (frog,) but it is even more sonorous." 



Count Miihle, in his "Beitraege zur Ornithologie Griechlands," 

 says, " Ember iza pyrrhuloides is considered to be a distinct species 

 from E. schceniculus. All the proportions are larger and stronger, the 

 head much thicker and longer, the beak peculiarly arched, unlike 

 that of any other species, the colouring of the plumage is much 

 brighter, and in broader masses, the black on the head and breast 

 much deeper. It breeds in the impenetrable reed beds, coming 



