THE REED BUNTING 109 



BO that little can be said of it which does not equally apply to its 

 congener. It appears, however, to be much less patient of cold, 

 and is consequently mostly confined to the southern counties of 

 England, from Cornwall to Kent, and in the valley of the Thames. 

 In the south of Europe, in the islands of the Mediterranean, and in 

 Asia Minor, it is said to replace the Yellow Hammer, which is far less 

 common. It is in the habit of perching higher than the Yellow 

 Hammer, and is said to be partial to elm-trees. The present 

 editor knows of its nesting recently in Hertfordshire. 



THE REED BUNTING 



EMBERIZA SCHCENICLUS 



Head, throat and gorget black (in winter speckled with light brown) ; nape, 

 sides of the neck, and a line extending to the base of the beak on each 

 side, white ; upper parts variegated with reddish brown and dusky ; 

 under parts white, streaked with dusky on the flanks. Female — head 

 reddish brown, with dusky spots ; the white on the neck less distinct ; 

 under parts reddish white, with dusky spots. Length six inches. Eggs 

 purplish grey, blotched and lined with dark purple brown. 



Wherever there is water, in the shape of a lake, canal, or river, 

 lined by bushes and rushes, there the Blackheaded Bunting is pretty 

 sure to be seen at most seasons of the year. The male is strongly 

 marked by his black head and white collar ; the head of the female 

 is of the same colour as the body ; but the white coUar, of a less 

 bright hue, she shares with her mate. ' Reed Bunting ' and ' Reed 

 Sparrow ' are other names for the same bird. In summer it rarely 

 quits the vicinity of water. At this season its food consists of 

 various seeds and insects ; but on the approach of winter it either 

 forms smeiU parties, or joins itself on to flocks of YeUow Hammers, 

 Sparrows, and Finches, and visits the stack-yards in search of grain. 

 It builds its nest in low bushes, or among aquatic plants, very near 

 the ground, employing bents, bits of straw, reeds, etc., and lining 

 it with hair. The eggs are four or five in munber, of a dull, livid 

 purple colour, marked with irregular curves or blotches of darker 

 purple, which remind one of the figure of the lines, so often seen on 

 bramble leaves, made by leaf-eating grubs. Its note resembles that 

 of the other Buntings, and is pleasant from its association with 

 walks by the river's side rather than for tone or melody. In Scot- 

 land the Reed Bunting is migratory, repairing southwards in October 

 and returning in March. 



