CORN-BUNTING. 149 



during winter, whence it probably migrates to Central Europe to breed. 

 It is a resident in Palestine, Asia Minor, and North Persia, as far south as 

 Shiraz. The Corn-Bunting has no very near ally, nor does it exhibit any 

 important variation in the colour of its plumage, except that British 

 examples are usually somewhat dingy. In the extreme southern and 

 eastern portions of its range, where the climate is tropical in summer, the 

 general colour is slightly more sandy than in examples inhabiting wetter 

 districts. The difference, however, is not of sufficient importance to con- 

 stitute a desert form, and is so slight as to be scarcely worthy of notice. 



The Corn-Bunting has little in its appearance to attract the attention ; 

 its notes, though peculiar, are not very musical, and as the bird is not 

 very active it is easily overlooked. This is not because it is retiring, but 

 because it is unobtrusive. It is a resident bird in our islands, and the 

 haunts it prefers are the breezy fields and open corn-lands. It may be seen 

 commonly in the richer and well- cultivated districts inland, on the semi- 

 waste grounds bordering the moors, and is very abundant on seaside 

 farms. 



The Corn-Bunting is essentially a bird of the steppes. The mountains 

 have no charm for it ; nor does it care for the forests. It is commonest 

 on the wide open plains, which have not inaptly been called the "granaries 

 of Europe." On many of these steppes you may travel for hundreds of 

 miles without seeing a tree, although the soil is very deep and rich, and 

 wheat and other grain is cultivated in unlimited quantities. In locahties 

 such as these it is often, next to the various species of Larks, the commonest 

 bird ; consequently in our islands it is somewhat local, comparatively few 

 districts being sufficiently open or fertile to suit it. 



This bird is by no means shy, and will almost invariably allow you to 

 approach sufficiently near to identify it beyond a doubt; but its presence 

 is usually first betrayed by its peculiar song, and the bird may soon be 

 detected in a conspicuous place perched on the top of some tall plant or 

 low bush, or perhaps on a wall or telegraph-wire. The song is uttered 

 either as the bird sits but little concerned at your approach, or as it takes 

 a slow laboured flight into the air to another bush or stump. It is a very 

 monotonous strain, but may, from the favourable position in which it is 

 uttered, rather than from its loudness, be heard at a considerable distance. 

 It is rather short, and I can best express it by tees, tees, tees, tis-is-is-s-s- 

 r-r-re. It is uttered apparently with great difficulty, and sounds as if the 

 bird were trying to sing with its bill closed. It is somewhat harsh, and puts 

 you in mind, as Mr. Gray remarks, of the jingling of a chain or the sound 

 of breaking glass. This simple song is most pertinaciously kept up. 

 Every few minutes the bird sings, and then waits as if to listen to its rivals, 

 then warbles again, often sitting for an hour or more on one perch. The 

 ordinary call-note of this bird is very loud, and resembles the word tdt ; 



