2 3 
Perching Birds. 
duller in colour than the male, is not so 
often seen, but the latter is often a con- 
spicuous object by the river-side, as he sits 
on the top of a reed or bush and utters his 
twittering call-note ; his black and white 
head and neck render him easily recognis- 
able. The nest is generally found in 
marshy ground in a clump of rushes or in 
a bush where the surrounding plants help 
to conceal it. I have, however, taken a nest at some little height above the ground 
in a bush, and in Norway I have twice found a nest at some distance from water, 
built upon the ground under the roots of a small birch tree. In each case the young 
were well advanced before the nest was discovered, so well was the latter concealed, 
though placed within a few feet of a well-frequented path. I was led to suspect the 
presence of a nest in both instances through the action of the parent-birds, who 
pretended to be wounded and were nearly caught by the hand, as they fluttered along 
the ground, trying to draw me away from the vicinity of the nest. The eggs are 
boldly marked, being of a stone-brown colour with very distinct writing-lines and 
spots of black. 
THE I ITTI E Only one occurrence of this Bunting has as yet been recorded in 
BUNTING. England, a specimen having been captured near Brighton in Novem- 
(Emberiza ber, 1864. As, however, the species visit Heligoland during the 
pusilln.) autumn migration, and has occurred occasionally in Holland, it may 
be expected to occur more frequently in Great Britain than has been hitherto supposed. 
It is a smaller bird than the Reed Bunting, but has the sides of the body striped with 
black as in that bird. It is, moreover, 
easily distinguished by the chestnut 
colour on the ear-coverts and throat. 
In its native home in Siberia, the 
Little Bunting is said to be remarkably 
tame, but in its winter home in India and 
Burma, where it assembles in flocks after 
the manner of other Buntings, it is 
very shy in its habits. The nests 
found by Mr. Seebohm on the Yenesei 
River were simply holes made in the 
dead leaves, moss, and grass, and lined 
with dead grass or reindeer-hair. The 
eggs are like those of the Corn Bunting, 
but are smaller. 
The Black Headed Bunting The r ustic Bunting (Emberiza 
The Rustic Bunting. 
