245 



It is a very rare straggler to North-east Africa. Baron de Selys Longchamps records it as 

 occurring in Egypt ; and Captain Shelley shot one near Damietta, on the 22nd March ; but Von 

 Heuglin never met with it there. In North-west Africa it is commoner, and Loche states that 

 it inhabits all three provinces of Algeria, but it does not appear to be numerous anywhere. 

 According to Favier it is rare near Tangier, where he met with it in December. 



In Asia it is found as far east as Japan. I have received examples from Turkestan, collected 

 by Dr. Severtzoff; and Mr. Scully writes (Stray Feathers, iv. p. 166), "this species was common 

 near Yarkand in winter ; and four specimens were preserved in January and February. It fre- 

 quented hedges and small trees, and was said by the Yarkandis to be a permanent resident ; but 

 I never observed it in summer. The Turki name for this bird is Cha kuchkach." Mr. Blanford 

 obtained it near Tehran; and Mr. A. O. Hume states (Ibis, 1869, p. 355) that he received it 

 from near Badlee, thirty miles south of Delhi. In Siberia the present species was met with by 

 Mr. Seebohm on the Yennesei river, where, he says, it arrived on the Arctic circle on the 13th 

 of June, and soon became common ; but he lost sight of it before he quite reached the limit of 

 forest-growth. He took a sitting of eggs in 70J° N. lat. 



In the Amoor country it appears to be replaced by an allied but specifically distinct form, 

 Emberiza passerine/,, Pall., which also is found in China; but I possess an example of the present 

 species, received from the late M. J. Verreaux, and said to have come from Lake Baikal ; it is 

 also found in Japan, and, Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer say, is " very common in the Yokohama 

 game-market, brought from Koshin in winter." 



The Reed-Bunting is a lively, active bird, companionable ; and generally several are found 

 together. During the breeding-season, however, the male is jealous and irritable, and often 

 attacks others of its own species as well as other small birds which may be passing near its nest. 

 It is generally bold, and keeps itself by no means concealed, but sits free on the top of some 

 high reed or bush near where its mate is occupied with the cares of incubation, uttering its 

 loud, clear call-note. The female, on the other hand, is shy, and during the breeding-season is 

 comparatively rarely seen. This species generally, if not always, frequents, during the breeding- 

 season, river-sides where the reed-beds are dense and the reeds high, or damp marshy places 

 overgrown with water-plants and rushes. During the autumn, however, they leave these loca- 

 lities and are often seen in the fields, at some distance from any water, or amongst the bushes in 

 low woods ; for they seldom or never appear to frequent localities covered with high trees. 



Its flight is quick and light, but rather jerky; when settling down on a bush or reed it- 

 spreads its tail, moves its wings, and erects the feathers on its crown. Its call-note is clear and 

 loud, and may be reproduced by the word tscheeh. The male has a loud but peculiar and 

 stammering song, which Naumann very well describes by the syllables zja til tai zississ, tai 

 zier zississ, and which appears to be uttered almost with difficulty. It sings continually, and 

 may be heard from early in April until late in the summer, at all hours of the day, and often 

 during the night also. 



The food of this species consists in the summer season of insects, which it seeks amongst the 

 reeds ; and during the autumn and winter season only does it appear to subsist chiefly on seeds, 

 chiefly of rushes and various wild plants and weeds. It is said to be very fond of millet, and is 

 often to be found where that plant is growing. During hard weather it is not unfrequently 



