EMBERIZIN^. 381 



3rcl. — Crested Buntings. 



The next and last Bunting differs remarkably in its black 

 plumage, and crested head. 



Gen. Melophus, Swainson. 



Char. — Bill compressed, with the upper mandible slightly 

 notched near the tip ; wings rather short ; tail even ; hind claw 

 slightly lengthened ; head with an erectile frontal crest ; otherwise 

 as in Euspiza. 



This genus differs but slightly in structure from Euspiza, but 

 the coloration is so remarkable, that I shall here keep it as a 

 distinct type. In its habits, too, it differs, never associating in 

 large flocks, and chiefly frequenting hills and ravines. Bonaparte 

 places it among the crested Buntings of America, as docs Gray 

 in his List of Genera. 



724. Melophus melanicterus, Gmelin. 



Fringilla, apud G^ielin — Jerdon, 2nd Suppl. Cat. 182 — 

 HoRSF., Cat. 743 — Euspiza Lathami, Gray — Blyth, Cat. 713 — 

 Emb. cristata. Vigors, P. Z, S., 1831— Sykes, Cat. 103— E. 

 subcristata, Sykes, Cat. 104 (the female) — E. erythroptera, 

 Jard. and Seluy, 111. Orn. pi. 132 — E. nipalensis, Hodgson — 

 Pathar chirta, H. 



The Crested Black Bunting. 



Descr. — Male — The whole body, with crest, glossy blue black ; 

 wings and tail dark cinnamon, with dusky tips ; tail-coverts at 

 their base black and cinnamon. 



Bill fleshy brown ; legs red brown ; irides dark brown. Length 

 6^ inches ; extent 10 ; wing 3 j ; tail 2|. 



The female is dusky brown above, the feathers edged light 

 olive brownish ; beneath rufescent white, or pale brownish ful- 

 vescent, with dusky streaks ; quills and tail dull and paler cinnamon 

 than in the male, dusky internally, and on the central tail feathers. 

 She is a little smaller, and the crest not so highly developed. 



The Crested Black Bunting is found on the Himalayas, extend- 

 ing into Central and Southern India. I have seen it at Mhow, 

 among the Yindhian Hills ; at Saugor, and on the banks of the 



