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from Scandinavia. Mr. Robert Gray writes (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 129) that it is " widely distri- 

 buted over Scotland. It is found in Shetland occasionally, and is known to have bred in 

 Orkney ; it likewise extends to the Outer Hebrides, where a few pairs breed every year. The 

 nest has been taken in North Uist and Harris ; and on some of the inner islands it is resident 

 all the year. On the mainland of Western Scotland it is also a permanent resident in many 

 localities, although of restless habits, during the winter season leaving its sedgy haunts for the 

 more substantial attractions of the farm-yard." He further says, speaking of its numbers in 

 winter (p. 130), that "there appears to be a large accession in winter to the numbers of this 

 Bunting in the north of Scotland, probably the migratory flocks retiring from Norway and 

 Sweden. These flocks mix with those of the common Bunting, and are commonly met with in 

 the north of Aberdeenshire. From that county my friend Mr. Thomas Ferguson has obtained 

 numbers of specimens (several of which are now before me) that were shot on the Kinmundy 

 estate, near Peterhead, out of flights which could scarcely have been composed of native birds." 

 It is said to be not uncommon in Orkney, and has bred there ; but it is very rare in Shetland. 

 Dr. Saxby writes (B. of Shetland, p. 96) that " it doubtless occurs in various parts of Shetland ; 

 but hitherto no instances have been recorded, except three by myself, and all of them at 

 Halligarth. First, a female was observed on the 12th February 1863, feeding in a ditch with 

 some common Buntings, and afterwards on the 12th April a male, also in company with 

 Buntings. These two remained for a short time; but the third, a female, took up its abode 

 among some little willows on the 15th of May 1866, and seemed inclined to remain. It was 

 killed by a Halligarth cat as soon as it became a little familiar." 



It is common and resident throughout Ireland, being probably more numerous there than 

 in other parts of the United Kingdom. In Scandinavia it is also common. In Norway, 

 Mr. Collett informs me, it breeds commonly in the willow region on the fells, but is seldom 

 seen in summer below the subalpine region. It is found nesting up to the Russian frontier, 

 and in some parts of the coast, as for instance, on the Hvaloer. It is only met with near 

 Christiania in the spring and autumn. Throughout Sweden it is widely distributed from the 

 extreme south far up into Lapland, breeding in suitable localities throughout the country. In 

 the winter it moves further south. It Finland it is also very generally distributed, breeding 

 commonly in the north, but, according to Von Wright, not in the southern districts. I found 

 it breeding near Uleaborg, in North Finland. It is found numerously in the north of Russia. I 

 have received many specimens from the Archangel Government; and Messrs. Seebohm and 

 Harvie-Brown, who met with it on the Petchora, write (Ibis, 1876, p. 117) as follows: — "On 

 the 15th May we got the first Reed-Buntings; and on the 19th we found them abundant, 

 frequenting the low alder- and birch-forests on the banks of the river opposite Ust Zylma. At 

 Habariki they are less abundant, haunting the skirts of the pine-woods and edges of the marshy 

 lakes and overflows from the river. Eggs were procured in the beginning of June at the latter 

 locality ; and we afterwards found them common down the river, beyond the Arctic circle ; 

 beyond this, however, they became scarce. We traced them as far north as Alexievka, where 

 the Zyriani got eggs for us. Seebohm found a nest of this bird built inside an old Fieldfare's 

 nest, in an alder-swamp, nine feet from the surface of the water. The bright clean plumage of 

 these birds is worthy of passing notice. They are much mealier than those found further west." 



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