101 



meter of cup 2f in., depth ly^g in. The eggs are 4—6 in number, 

 "varying in ground colour from pale pinkish to violet or greenish, with 

 numerous fine brown streaks and hair lines or spots, and pale underlying 

 violet grey spots. On the whole they bear a great likeness to the eggs 

 of the preceding species, and like them are sometimes found very lightly 

 marked. Incubation is performed by the hen, the cock singing from some 

 dead branch in the neighbourhood, and the eggs are laid at the end of 

 May, a second brood being reared in July. Average measurements of 54 eggs 

 (22 by Taczanowski, 7 by Rey and the rest by the writer) 21.48 X 16.1 mm., 

 Max. 23.3 X 16.7 and 23 X 17.3 mm., Min. 19X16.3 and 19.6X14.2 mm. 

 One egg weighs 170 mg. (Rey); average of 22 eggs, 173 mg. (Bau). 



47. Black headed Bunting, Emheriza nielanocei)liala Scop. 



Plate 14, fig. 12—15 (Attica); 16 (Smyrna). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXXIl, fig. 3, a — c. Baedeker, 

 Tab. 3, fig. 9. Taczanowski, Tab. LXV, fig. 3. Seebohm, Brit. Birds, 

 pi. 15; id. Col. Fig., pi. 58. Reiser, Orn. Bale. Ill, Taf. Ill, fig. 22—24. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Propaska cernohlavy. France: Bruant 

 crocote. Germany: Kappenammer. Greece: Ampelouros, Krasopouli. Hungary: 

 Kucsmds sdrmdny. Italy: Zigolo capinero. Montenegro: Zutar, Zutka. 

 Russia: TscJiernoloivaja otvsjanka. 



Emheriza melanocephala Scop. Newton, ed. Yarrell, II, p. 64; Dresser, 

 Birds of Europe, IV, p. 151; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 346; Saunders, Man. 

 p. 205; Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 170. 



Breeding Range: S. E. Europe, [Also Palestine and Asia Minor 

 to the Caucasus, Persia and Beluchistan.] Has occurred in the British Isles. 



In Greece and many of the islands of the Archipelago, Crete, and con- 

 Cyprus, this bird is a well known and numerous summer visitor, arrivinsc ^i^^°*^' 



•'^ ' _ _ ... ' o Europe. 



at the end of April and breeding plentifully in the vineyards and gardens 

 of the plain, and in smaller numbers on the hillsides. It is also common 

 in the low lying parts of Macedonia, Rumelia, etc., but becomes scarcer north 

 of the Balkans. On the west side of the peninsula it is very common in 

 the plains of Dalmatia and Montenegro, but is rare above 1500 ft. In 

 south Russia it is found as far as the lower part of the Volga valley, 

 and in Italy occurs frequently on the east coast, where it occasionally 

 breeds, especially in Venetia. In Asia Minor it is found in vast numbers, 



Seebohm describes nests from Greece as neatly finished inside, but Nest. 

 rather loose and ragged in appearance outside; the foundation consisting 

 of dry grass, thistle leaves, etc., and the main part constructed of the yeUow 

 dry stalks of small flowering plants, covered with seed capsules, lined with 

 brown roots and finer grasses and sometimes hair. Diameter of cup 2| in.. 



