EMBERIZ.V. 261 



Emberizamelanops, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xiv, p. 554(1845). 

 Euspiza melanops (Bhjtk), Blyth, Cat. p. 129. 



Coloration. Male. After the autumn moult the lores, the region 

 of the gape, and the point of the chin are black , the whole head, 

 whole neck, and breast dull olive-green, some of the feathers of the 

 hind neck with dull rufous-brown tips and the feathers of the 

 crown with indistinct dark shaft-streaks ; back and scapulars dull 

 rufous-brow ii streaked with black ; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 olive-brown ; tail dark brown, edged with olive-brown, the outer- 

 most feather with the basal portion of the outer web and the 

 terminal half of the inner web white ; the penultimate feather 

 with a large triangular white tip to the inner web ; lesser coverts 

 rufous-brown ; remaining coverts and quills dark brown, broadly 

 edged with rufous-brown ; lower plumage from the breast down- 

 wards yellow, the sides of the body tinged with rufous and streaked 

 with brown. 



The change that takes place in the plumage in spring is very 

 trifling, the rufous tips to the feathers of the hind neck wearing 

 away and the plumage in general becoming brighter. 



Female. The whole upper plumage, wings, and tail as in the male, 

 but the head and hind neck less green and the shaft-streaks well- 

 developed ; a supercilium, lores, cheeks, chin, and throat pale 

 yellowish; ear-coverts brown ; a series of brown spots on each 

 side of the throat extending to the breast, which is dull yellowish 

 streaked with brown ; remainder of lower plumage yellow, the 

 sides of the body streaked with brown. 



Young birds resemble the female, but have the head more 

 streaked and the throat spotted with brown. Young males have 

 assumed "the adult plumage by February or March, the last signs 

 of immaturity left at that time being small triangular tips to the 

 feathers of the crown. 



Legs and feet pale brownish fleshy ; upper mandible dark 

 brown ; lower mandible and gape horny pinkish white ; iris brown 

 (Hume). 



Length about 6 ; tail 2-6 ; wing 2-8 ; tarsus *75 ; bill from gape '5. 



Distribution. A winter visitor to the Himalayas from Nepal to 

 Assam and to the eastern portion of the Empire from Assam down 

 to Manipur. In the winter this species extends to China and it 

 summers in Eastern Siberia. 



Habits, 6fc. According to Hume, this species is very partial to 

 long grass and watery localities. 



799. Emberiza melanocephala. The Blade-headed Bunting. 



Etnberiza melanocephala, Scop. Ann. i, p. 142 (17G9); Sharpe, Cat. 



B. M. xii, p. 503 ; Dates in Hume's N. <§■ E. 2nd ed. ii, p. 170. 

 Euspiza simillinia, Blyth, J. A. S. B. xviii, p. 811 (1849); id. Cat. 



p. 128 ; Horsf. 8f M. Cat. ii, p. 486 ; Hume, N. 8f E. p. 466. 

 Euspiza melanocephala (Scop.), Blyth, Cat. p. 128 ; Jerd. B. I. ii, 



p. 378 ; Blanf. J. A. S. B. xxxviii, pt. ii, p. 186; Hume, Cat. no. 



721 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. p. 271. 

 Gandam, Hind. 



