342 
NOTES ON THE CIRL BUNTING. 
the Reed Bunting chink. The cry of the young differs only in being more shrill 
and ear-piercing; and, as you approach the nest, the parents utter, in addition 
to this, a lengthened sibilous peep., or pseep, and not uncommonly feign lame¬ 
ness to entice you from the spot, more especially when their young are first 
stirring. The latter habit is less frequently noticeable in the Yellow Bunting; 
and Mr. Salmon records having once observed it in the Reed Bunting. I have 
known both parents to act thus, in the present species; and the consequence was, 
I managed to capture two of their brood, of which one is now alive in my 
possession. 
The nest is placed in similar situations to that of the Yellow Bunting, but, I 
think, on the average, not quite so near the ground; and usually at no great 
distance from a clump or row of Elms, to which the male resorts to serenade 
his mate. I have examined, in all, about a dozen specimens, which differed 
exceedingly from one-another; two were chiefly composed of green moss, and 
lined with hair, while others contained not a particle of those materials, being 
constructed of bents, and lined with fibrous roots; they are uniformly, however, 
smaller and less compact than those of the Yellow Bunting, but without so loose 
an exterior. The eggs cannot always, with certainty, be distinguished from those 
of the allied species alluded to; but may generally be told by having the ground¬ 
colour clearer, and inclining to bluish, whereas those of the Yellow Bunting have 
commonly a reddish tinge; the Girl Bunting’s eggs are also, on the average, a 
trifle smaller, but numerous specimens occur which are undistinguishable. ; 
The young have no tinge of yellow in their nestling plumage, but their mark¬ 
ings correspond with those of the adult female as observed in winter. During 
the summer months the adults of course shed the terminal edgings of their 
feathers to a considerable extent, so that the back of the male becomes of a 
uniform rufous colour. I have noticed, in numerous instances, the parent birds 
with Grasshoppers in their mouths, which I believe are the sole diet wherewith 
they supply their progeny. On dissecting the adults I have found the remains 
of Beetles in their stomachs, and towards harvest-time they feed principally on 
the nearly ripe wheat. In winter they enter and search stackyards, when the 
weather is severe, but do not usually flock with other species. I am informed 
that they are particularly partial to the seeds of Sorrel, insomuch that a few dry 
plants of this mingled in a hay-rick are sure to attract their attention. They 
would appear to be rather more sprightly in their deportment than the Yellow 
Bunting; though probably this arises merely from their timidity, and suspicious¬ 
ness of being approached. 
The geographic range of the Girl Bunting extends to Asia-Minor, where, 
according to Mr. Strickland, it would seem to replace the Yellow species, and to 
frequent the borders of streams and rivulets, which I have never observed it to 
