BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
But the rhyme which is now more commonly heard is : 
" The Brock, the tod, the yellow yeorlin. 
Drink a drap o' the de'il's bluid 
Ilka May mornin'."* 
The Yellow Bunting in spring is a common resident 
throughout the arable and lower pastoral districts ; whether 
or not its numbers are reduced in winter by emigration 
it is difficult to say, as at this season it mixes with 
Chaffinches and Sparrows, frequenting the stubbles and 
farm-yards. Its eggs have gained for it the name of the 
" Writing Lark " on account of their wavy scrawl-hke mark- 
ings ; but they have been found pure white, as at Duncow 
(Kirkmahoe) in 1886 (see p. U). In its nesting-season the 
species is most erratic, eggs being frequently found m 
September and even later, which are no doubt second or 
even third broods. 
THE REED-BUNTING. Emberiza schoeniclus, Linnaeus. 
Local names— RiNG-BuNTiNG ; Reed-Sparrow; Black- 
headed BUNTIKG. 
A common but local resident, subject to partial migration. 
This species is often called the " Black-headed Bunting," 
and in spring and summer its black head affords some 
excuse for the misnomer, but the Black-headed Buntmg 
proper the Emberiza melanocephala of ornithologists, is 
only a very rare visitor to Great Britain from the south- 
eastern portions of Europe. 
The Reed-Bunting is to be found in spring, but somewhat 
locally, in fairly damp spots ; such as by the side of slow- 
running streams (e.g., the Cairn), or on swampy moor ands 
{e.g., the head of Loch Urr). It is common on all the 
* Brock = badger. Tod = fox. Ilka = each. 
