CORN-BUNTING. 151 



colour to dull white, and the spots, streaks, and blotches vary from rich 

 purplish brown, almost black, to pale brown, and the underlying markings, 

 which on some eggs are large and numerous, are violet-grey or greyish 

 purple. As before stated, the eggs of this bird vary greatly; but each 

 clutch ^generally partakes of uniform characters. Some eggs are very 

 boldly streaked and dotted, and have paler blotches almost over the entire 

 surface, others have the mass of markings in a broad band round the 

 larger end. On some eggs the ground-colour can scarcely be seen, so 

 thick and numerous are the surface-markings j whilst others more re- 

 semble those of the Girl Bunting, and are only sparingly spotted and 

 streaked, chiefly on the large end. Other specimens have most of the 

 markings underlying ones, with one or two large irregular masses of 

 colour here and there. They vary in length from 1"05 to "87 inch, and 

 in breadth from '75 to '67 inch. The Corn-Bunting sits very closely, 

 and sometimes when disturbed, especially if the nest contain young, will 

 flutter round the head of the intruder, or hop anxiously from stem to 

 stem. The bird appears to rear only one brood in the year. 



The food of the Corn-Bunting is composed of grain and seeds of 

 various kinds, and in summer principally of insects and their larvae. Its 

 young are almost exclusively fed on small caterpillars and insects. This 

 bird may frequently be seen in corn-fields when the grain is nearly ripe, 

 where it breaks down the straws by clinging to them, picking out the 

 com upon the ground. In autumn and winter the Corn-Bunting is more 

 or less gregarious, and often associates with Sky-Larks and Finches. 

 It may at this season be seen in the stackyards clinging to the stacks and 

 feeding with the Sparrows. It also frequents the stubbles and wild weedy 

 pastures, where it is veiy often mistaken for a Lark. It will sometimes 

 skulk in the close herbage until almost trodden upon, and as it roosts on 

 the ground numbers are regularly caught in nets with Larks. Its flight is 

 powerful and undulating ; and although the bird seems heavy and clumsy 

 in the air, it is capable of flying very long distances. 



In autumn, especially during the latter part of October, our resident 

 Corn-Buntings are largely increased in numbers by migratory flocks. In 

 some parts of this country the bird is better known in winter than in 

 summer. In the Shetland Islands Saxby states that it comes in winter 

 in flocks ; and he observed that certain birds annually came to the same 

 district, by seeing a bird with a white patch of plumage on its back 

 amongst them for several winters in succession. The bird is far more 

 numerous also in the eastern counties in winter than in summer. 



The Corn-Bunting has the general colour of the upper parts hair-brown 

 streaked with dark brown ; the wing-coverts and innermost secondaries are 

 dark brown, with broad pale rufous margins ; the wings and tail are 

 blackish brown, with pale edges ; the general colour of the underparts is 



