EMBERIZIN^. 



207 



THE RUSTIC BUNTING. 



Emberiza rustica, Pallas. 



The first example of the Rustic Bunting known to have occurred 

 in England was caught near Brighton, on October 23rd 1867. and 

 was shown alive to the late Mr. G. D. Rowley •. it is now in the 

 collection of Mr. T. J. Monk of Lewes. A second, identified and 

 recorded by Mr. \V. E. Clarke (Zool. 1881, p. 465), and exhibited at 

 a meeting of the Zoological Society, was shot on the Holderness 

 coast, Yorksliire, on September 17th iSSi, the same day on which 

 a young bird of this species was obtained at Heligoland by Mr. 

 Giitke. Lord Lilford states (Zool. 18S3, p. 2)3) th^t a young male 

 was sent to him in the flesh, which had been taken by a bird-catcher 

 at Elstree reservoir, near London, on November 19th 1S82. 



The Rustic Bunting is an eastern species which is gradually 

 extending its range westward, and is now known to wander to 

 Sweden and to occur annually in East Finland. Mr Giitke informs 

 me that he possesses eight specimens taken on Heligoland, while 

 more have been obtained there ; and stragglers have occurred from 

 time to time in Germany, Austria, the south of France, the 

 north of Italy, and once near Constantinople. From Archangel 

 eastward it ranges across Siberia to Kamschatka ; Dr. von Midden- 

 dorff found it paired and apparently nesting in the Stanovoi Moun- 

 tains ; southward, it is abundant on passage in Mongolia ; and, 

 according to Cajjtain Blakiston, it is common in the southern part 

 of the main island of Japan in winter, and at Yeso in summer. In 

 the cold season it is found in China as far south as Shanghai ; and 



