24 



British Birds. 



BUNTING. 



\Emhcviza mdnnoccphala.) 



rustled). Some three or four occurrences of this Bunting have been recorded, examples 

 having been obtained near Brighton, near London, and in Yorkshire. The species 

 is more rufous in colour than either of the preceding birds, and distinguished from 

 both of them by the chestnut streaks on the flanks, while the lesser wing-coverts are 

 chestnut, and there is a band of chestnut across the fore-neck. In the female the 

 lesser wing-coverts are brown, and there is no rufous on the head and throat. The 

 Rustic Bunting is a Siberian bird, and breeds as far westward as Archangel and Fin- 

 land, up to almost 64^ or 65'-' N. Lat. It is said to possess a rich and melodious song, 

 and its alarm-note to resemble that of the Redwing. Its habits are like those of the 

 Reed Bunting, and its home is in the marshy pme-vvoods of Northern Europe. Properly 

 identified nests and eggs of this species are desiderata in most of our Museums. 



This richly-coloured bird is an Oriental species, whose 

 THE BLACK-HEADED migrations appear to be due east and west, instead of north 

 and south, as is the case with most migratory birds. Although 

 it is more gaudily coloured than is the case with most 

 Buntings, which, as a rule, are remarkable for a sober plumage, the observations of 

 naturalists tend to shew that it is a true Bunting in its habits. The breeding 

 home of the species extends from the Riviera to Greece and Turke_\-, and thence to 

 Central Asia, while it winters in North-Western India in enormous numbers, leaving 

 its European breeding-quarters very early in the year, and disappearing at the end 

 of July or the beginning of August. 



Three specimens of the Black-headed Bunting have been recorded in the British 

 Islands, the species having occurred in Sussex, Nottinghamshire, and near Dunferm- 

 line, in Scotland ; so that it may 

 be reckoned as an occasional 

 visitor to our shores. The nest 

 is a somewhat bulky structure, 

 and is placed on the ground or 

 in some low bush, or amongst 

 the vines and other trailing 

 plants. Near Constantinople, 

 Seebohm found it principally 

 amongst the rows of peas 

 and beans. The eggs are 

 four or five in number, 

 and are of a different type 

 from those of most European 

 Buntings, being of a pale 

 greenish blue colour, with 

 -The YiiLLow Bunting. 2-The Cirl Bunting. l^rown spots and grey under- 



3— The Ortolan Bunting. ly'^S markings. 



