1 86 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The following have been selected for consideration : — 



Fam ily — Fringillida. 



Genus — 1. CliTysomitris. C. spinoides. Indian Siskin, 



2. Eiiiberiza. E. luteola. Red-headed 



Bunting. 



3. MelopHS. M. nielcDiicterns. Crested Black 



Bunting. 



Indian Siskin. — In the male the forehead, occiput, and 

 nape are yellow, and the remaining upper parts olive 

 brown ; the wings are black, with a yellow spot on the 

 coverts, and a pale yellow band on the primaries ; the tail 

 is dusky in the centre, but the side feathers are yellow. 

 The female is duller in appearance, her yellow parts not 

 being as bright as in the male, and the black has a brownish 

 tinge. The lengtli of the Indian siskin is o\ inches, of 

 which the tail measures '1. It is found throughout the 

 Himala}'as. 



Red-Headed Bunting. — The head, neck, and breast are 

 bright deep chestnut brown ; the back and scapulars yellow, 

 with dark brown stripes ; the rump and upper tail coverts 

 are yellow ; the primaries and the tail brown ; the under 

 parts below the breast are rich yellow. Its full length is 7 

 inches, of which the tail takes up 3. 



The red-headeti bunting is locally distributed throughout 

 India during the cold weather only. It breeds in Afghani- 

 stan, and has a very sweet and melodious song, w'hich 

 causes it the loss of its liberty very often, when it does 

 very well, providing a sufficiency of insects be added to its 

 diet of seed. 



Crested Black Buntinc;. — The whole body, with the 

 crest, is deep glossy black ; the wings and tail are dark 

 cinnamon, with dusky tips ; the tail coverts at the base 



