78 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
REED BUNTING. 
EMBERIZA SCHENICLUS, Linn. 
Pl. XIL., figs. 1, 2. 
Geogr. distr.—Extending widely throughout Europe, excepting in 
the Central and Southern districts; at the approach of winter 
migrating to N. Africa; in Asia as far east as Japan and as far 
south as India; in Great Britain it is generally distributed and 
resident. 
Food.—Seeds, berries, and insects. 
Nest.—Formed of dry grass and, according to most writers, moss ; 
lined with finer grass and a few hairs of the feathery tops of reeds. 
Position of nest.—On the ground in swampy land, amongst willows 
and osiers, or in a clump of long grass reeds or rushes and aquatic 
plants; rarely in a low bush; usually well concealed. 
Number of eggs.—4-7; rarely more than 5. 
Time of nidification.—IV-VII. May. 
In Norfolk I have heard the name Water-Pheasant 
applied to this species; if one expected to find the Asiatic 
Hydrophasianus on the Broads, he would be slightly dis- 
appointed ; yet the eggs of the Bunting are, in my opinion, 
prettier than the large, shining peg-top-like eggs of the true 
Water Pheasant. 
In June, 1885, I received two nests of this species, one 
obtained by my friend Mr. Wiliam Drake on the saltings at 
Kemsley, near Sheppy, in Kent; this nest is constructed 
of fine bents and a few rough twigs, thickly and firmly lined 
with finer bents, fibre and hair; the eggs (five in number) are 
very decidedly and beautifully marked: the second nest was 
obtained at Downton, Salisbury, in May, by my friend Mr. 
Salter, a cousin of the above gentleman ; itis a smaller and 
more coarsely constructed nest than that from Kent, being 
formed externally of coarse, reedy grass leaves, becoming 
finer and mixed with bents and horse-hair towards the 
centre; neither of these nests shows a trace of moss in its 
construction, nor have I hitherto seen it in nests of this 
bird; Mr. Seebohm, however, says that in some districts 
they are made externally of dry grass, moss, and withered 
leaves of rushes, and internally of fine grass and hairs. 
The Reed Bunting rears two, if not three, broods in the 
year. 
