42 



BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Blacft^bea&eb Bunting. 



The Black-headed Bunting [Ej?iberiza melanocephala^ Sco- 

 poli) is a very rare irregular spring and autumn visitor to 

 the British Isles. In summer it is exceedingly common in 

 South-Eastern Europe ; it spends the winter in India. The 

 adult male in nuptial dress has the wings brown ; coverts, 

 tipped with pale brown ; innermost secondaries, broadly 

 edged with pale brown ; rectrices, brown ; head, lores, and 

 auriculars, black ; rest of upper parts, chestnut, extending to 

 the sides of breast ; under parts, rich yellow, tinged with 

 rufous on sides of body ; irides, dark brown ; bill, grey ; 

 legs, pale brown. Length, about six inches. The adult 

 female lacks the black on the head, and plumage generally 

 is brownish and yellowish. In winter the whole plumage 

 has a dingy appearance. The young in first plumage are 

 very similar to the adult female. 



