NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 27 



Average measurement, '81 inch in length by "62 inch in 

 breadth. Incubation is performed chiefly by the female, 

 but the duration of the period appears not to have been 

 observed. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Ortolan 

 Bunting most closely resemble those of the Reed Bunt- 

 ing, but are larger, not so clouded in appearance, and 

 the markings partake more of the character of spots than 

 interlaced streaks. 



Family FRINGILLID^. Genus Emberiza. 



Sub-family EMBERIZINyE. 



LITTLE BUNTING. 



Emberiza pusilla, Pallas. 



(British : Very rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 



Single Brooded. Laying season, June and beginning of July. 



Breeding area : Northern Palaearctic region. The 

 Little Bunting breeds from the eastern shores of the 

 White Sea across Northern Europe and Asia to the 

 Tchuski Land and the valleys of the Lower Amoor. It 

 is a thoroughly boreal species, and seldom breeds south 

 of the Arctic circle, except at high elevations, as for 

 instance on the mountains of Eastern Siberia and in the 

 Baikal area. It was met with in the valley of the 

 Petchora as far north as lat. 68° ; in the valley of the 

 Yenesay up to lat. 71°. 



Breeding habits: The Little Bunting, like most 

 other Arctic birds, is a late migrant, not reaching its 

 breeding grounds in the Arctic regions before the end 



