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alarm-note is a deep zee, like that of other Buntings. They call when on the wing, but seldom 

 when on the ground in search of food, during which operation they remain very quiet and, from 

 their plain greyish-brown livery, are not easily observed. It is a clumsy bird both on the ground 

 and on the wing ; and its flight is heavy and laboured, more resembling that of the Sparrow than 

 the Yellow Bunting. When on migration they fly at a considerable altitude, but may be distin- 

 guished from the other Buntings by their call-note, which they continually utter, and which 

 somewhat resembles that of the Common Hawfinch. During the spring and summer season they 

 feed chiefly on insects, devouring many of the caterpillars so destructive to cereals; the young 

 birds are, indeed, almost entirely fed on insects. In the autumn and winter, when these are not 

 to be had in any numbers, they feed on grain. Mr. Yarrell gives the following extract from the 

 'Journal of a Naturalist :' — " It could hardly be supposed that this bird, not larger than a Lark, is 

 capable of doing serious injury; yet this morning I witnessed a rick of barley, standing in a 

 detached field, entirely stripped of its thatching, which this Bunting effected by seizing the end 

 of the straw and deliberately drawing it out, to search for any grain the ear might contain, the 

 base of the rick being entirely surrounded by the straw, one end resting on the ground the other 

 against the mow, as it slid down from the summit, and regularly placed as if by the hand ; and so 

 completely was the thatching pulled off that the immediate removal of the corn became necessary. 

 The Sparrow and other birds burrow into the stack, and pilfer the corn; but the deliberate 

 operation of unroofing the edifice appears to be the habit of this Bunting alone." 



The nest is placed on the ground, carefully concealed amongst the rough herbage, tangled 

 brambles, or bushwork, and is constructed of dried grasses, roots, &c, and lined with horsehair. 

 The eggs, generally from four to five in number, are subject to great variation. The following 

 account of the nest is given by Hewitson in his 'British Birds' Eggs': — "The Common Bunting, 

 perhaps better known by the name of Corn-Bunting or Bunting Lark, builds its loosely con- 

 structed nest on or near the ground, sometimes in briars, more commonly in a clump of grass, 

 and occasionally at the root of a low shrub ; it is usually in the open fields, and at a distance 

 from the hedgerows ; it is composed of a few sticks, pieces of moss, and dry grass, becoming finer 

 towards the inside, which is sometimes completed by the addition of a few hairs. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, and differ a good deal in size, shape, and colour, but always retain the 

 character of the genus. Their size prevents them from being mistaken for those of any other 

 Bunting." 



Mr. Bobson has sent us a note on the habits of the present bird in Turkey. He writes : — 

 " In spring they often sit on the top of a tree or bush, uttering their shrill and little-varied note, 

 often shifting their situation from one elevated post to another. As they fly, their legs hang 

 down ; and they utter their note in flight. The nest is built on the ground, generally close to 

 some tall plant, on which it is their habit to rest before entering : six eggs are the complement. 

 They are very numerous during the autumn migration, when they are very fat, and great 

 quantities of them are taken by bird-catchers on limed twigs ; I have known one man take three 

 hundred in a morning ; while great numbers are shot by sportsmen for eating : they are plump 

 heavy birds, and of all the Bunting family are in most request for the table. Many of them stay 

 over the winter, when they congregate in flocks. In this country the present species feeds much 

 on small beetles, which are very plentiful here." It will be noticed that Mr. Robson's statement 



