PASSERINE BIRDS. igi 



are told by Von Miihle that these birds are so extremely dull and stupid in their disposition that the 

 male when singing will allow himself to be approached and killed with a stick, but in other respects 

 they resemble the rest of their congeners. The nest is usually built upon a hill side, the female 

 burying herself as far as possible among the surrounding plants or grass, whilst her mate perches 

 upon a neighbouring shrub or tree and cheers her with a constant flow of song. The little cradle is 

 formed without art of the stalks of plants and leaves loosely woven together, and lined with delicate 

 fibres of hair or fine grass. The eggs, which are laid about the middle of June, are of a pale blueish 

 green, marked with more or less distinct green, red, or grey spots. 



THE REED BUNTING. 



The Reed Bunting (Cynchramus Schxnidus) has been separated from the other members of 

 its family on account of the peculiar formation of its beak, and though closely resembling them in 

 many particulars, certainly differs from them in its habits. The Reed Bunting is about six inches long 

 and twenty-nine broad, the wings and the tail measuring rather more than two inches. The female is 

 not quite so large. The head and entire throat of the male are deep black, a white stripe passes from 

 the corner of the beak towards the shoulder, uniting itself with a band of the same hue that encircles 

 the neck ; the back is brown, each feather being edged with a lighter shade, and having a dark shaft, 

 giving to this part of the plumage a somewhat sparrow-like appearance ; the rump is ash grey, the 

 belly white, and the sides grey, marked with dark longitudinal streaks. In the female the head is 

 brown, with markings of a darker shade, the throat dirty white, and encircled by a spotted band ; 

 the nestlings and young males resemble the mother. The eye is brown, the beak blue, darker upon 

 the upper mandible, and light beneath ; the feet are reddish grey. 



This species is found throughout Europe, inhabiting every country even as far north as Lapland. 

 It is, however, generally met with in such districts only as are near to water, or in marshy land, rich in 

 water-plants, reeds, or willows, on or near which it makes its nest. The nest itself is frequently built on 

 some small patch of ground, encircled by water ; it is constructed of grass or roots woven neatly together 

 and lined with cotton down taken from seeds or willows. This little dwelling is placed upon the 

 ground in such a manner as to be hidden by the surrounding vegetation, and (about May) is generally 

 found to contain from four to six pretty eggs, differing considerably from each other in appearance, 

 but for the most part of a brownish or reddish tinge, with a profusion of dark brown or grey spots and 

 veins. These birds are much attached to their young, and the mother will actually permit herself to 

 be removed from the nest by force rather than desert her offspring. In its general attributes the 

 Reed Bunting certainly stands superior to most of its fellows, far exceeding them in the activity it 

 displays either when hopping on the ground or jumping from twig to twig : its flight is rapid and 

 undulating, occasionally varied by more energetic efforts as the light and elegant bird rises swiftly into 

 the air, where it performs a variety of evolutions, and then as speedily descends. Its song is 

 monotonous, but far from unpleasing ; its call a more prolonged note than is usually produced by a 

 Bunting. During the summer, the food of this species consists principally of such insects as it 

 obtains from the reeds growing in the immediate vicinity of the water, and in winter it subsists upon 

 the seeds that abound in its favourite haunts ; it is only after the breeding season that it is tempted 

 to join company with others of its kind, and make short excursions to pilfer the neighbouring corn- 

 fields, very much after the manner of Sparrows. On the approach of winter, it seeks refuge in a more 

 congenial climate, visiting Spain and other southern countries in large flocks. 



The SPUR BUNTINGS or LARK BUNTINGS {Centrophanes) constitute an extensive group 

 that comprises many beautifully plumaged species, distinguished by the remarkable elongation of the 



