B L A C K - I I E A I) E I) B U N T T N G.
EMBJMZA SCIHEXICVl. us.
T o familiar names uf Rood-Bunt nig or Kinl-Hnarrow, commonly applied to this species, clearly indicate the
style or country it frequents. Those titles, bowwer, only hold good during summer, as the hirds may
constantly ho observed in autumn and winter joining in small numbers with other Buntings, Linnets, and
Pinches. In OOnvponj with these roving tloeks, they move from ono spot to another—stackyards, waste lands,
and any situations where food is procurable being visited.
Prom Caithness to Susses this lively bird is to be met with ; and M M the wild aud barren Western
Islands arc resorted to at certain seasons, if no residents remaiu all the year round oil those inhospitable
shores. I remarked a pair or two repeatedly in a few stunted hushes in the garden of u shooting-lodge situated
on one of the saltwater lochs in the Ling Island durinir the kilter end of April and early in May 1877.
Their presence at such an early date would lead to the impression that they had passed the winter in this
neighbourhood. When I left the lodge (alwut the middle of Hay) the hirds were still there; aud as unsuitable
nesting-ground could possibly be discovered within a mile or so of their usual quarters (from which they
were seldom absent for any length of time), I concluded they had yet to make a move to their summer
haunts.
The neighbourhood of rush-grown marshes Ps the favourite resort or the lllaek-beaded Hunting; and in
the Broad districts of the eastern counties this handsome bird may be observed in immense numbers and to
the fullest advantage during fine summer weather. The male, with his black head, while neck, and eonspicuous
red-brown markings on Hie hack, is one or the most attractive inhabitants of these watery wastes. As ho Hits
along the river-hank or the side of the marsh-dyke, by no means disconcerted by a passing boat, there is little
dilhculty in closely watching his actions. A short stroll across any of the adjoining grass-mars!ics that Me
interspersed with thick patches of rushes nod other luxuriant water-plants would doubtless start a female,
(hitiering apparently helpless and injured, from her neatly built nest snugly concealed among the roots of the
course herbage.
I have no evidence that any migrants from across the North Sea arrive on our coasts during the fall of the
war. According to my own experience, Ibis species is decidedly less numerous in many English comities
throughout the winter mouths than during the breeding-season. This local diminution may probably be
sivouuled fur by their common habit of joining with other small birds towards the cud uf autumn and
deserting their usual haunts. It is evidently the custom of this species to roost in the neighbourhood uf
marshes, though whether in winter they separate from the tloeks of small birds with whom they keep
company during the day I have had no opportunity of ascertaining. As early as the first week in March
they may be seen towards evening gathering in the dins-lion of some rush-grown pool or ditch in the levels in
the vicinity of the south coast. A patch of reeds in a small water-dyke running through the marshes between
Nhoreham and Heeding Is a favourite resort. I have on several occasions, while passing, watched them