232 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Tamerzed, South Tunisia. 



Above greyish-brown, the phimage generally having a somewhat 

 striated appearance owing to the dark centres of the feathers ; rump more 

 uniform in colour ; wings and tail dark brown, with light margins to the 

 feathers ; faint superciliary stripe creamy-white ; chin and throat creamy- 

 white, spotted on the sides ; rest of underparts creamy-white, spotted on 

 the breast, and streaked on the sides and flanks wuth dark brown. 



Iris very dark brown ; bill yellowish-brown ; feet yellowish-flesh-colour. 



Total length 7 inches, wing 4, culmen -50, tarsus 1. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather smaller. 



Observations. — Few species are more subject to variation in plumage than 

 the present one, and " varieties," including complete albinoes, are constantly 

 to be met with, my own collection possessing several such " sports." 



This is one of the commonest birds to be met with in Tunisia, 

 and occurs throughout the Kegency generally, except in the higher 

 mountain districts and in the sandy desert. Owing to its fearless, 

 and somewhat obtrusive habits, it is constantly in evidence, even 

 to the most careless observer. Although distinctly a resident species 

 in Tunisia, this Bunting also appears to be migratory there to a certain 

 extent. 



In Algeria and Marocco the species is abundant in districts corres- 

 ponding to those where it occurs in Tunisia, and it is also to be found 

 in the north of Tripoli. 



The Corn-Bunting as a rule frequents cultivated plains and open 

 country, where bushes are plentiful, and is rarely to be met with on 

 mountains, or at any great elevation. Koad-sides are much resorted 

 to, particularly if they are edged by hedgerows. This bird is by no 

 means shy, and may indeed be called rather stupid, for it seems 

 actually to court danger, perching conspicuously on bush-tops, or 

 on the roadside immediately in front of the passer-by. 



During the autumn and winter months these Buntings collect in 

 small flocks, and may often be found on stubble fields, in the company 

 of other species, feeding on grain and seeds. During that season the 

 Tunis bird-catchers take numbers of the birds, as they roost at night 

 on the ground together with Larks. 



Besides feeding on grain and seeds, this species devours numbers 

 of insects, particularly coleoptera, during the spring and summer. 



