102 



Eggs. 



Breeding 

 Season. 



Measure- 

 ments. 



depth 2 in. In Greece the nest is usually built on a vine stock, but in 

 Turkey it is often placed among the standing peas, and in Montenegro 

 von Ftihrer found nests 5 — 6 ft. from the ground in wild pomegranate 

 or other bushes. At other times it is found almost touching the ground 

 in low scrub, and also in brambles and creepers. 



Usually 4 or 5 in number, but 6 are sometimes met with, and Fiihrer 

 took one clutch of 7 eggs. In type they differ widely from most Bunting 

 eggs, except those of E. luteola. The ground colour is pale greenish blue, 

 rarely without markings, but generally with pale violet underlying spots, 

 and brown blotches or spots, but not streaks. Some eggs have very bold 

 blotches of warm brown; others have distinct zones or caps of confluent 

 spots at the big end, and a third type has the fine spots evenly distributed 

 or almost obsolete. 



Kriiper states that in Greece the breeding season begins in mid-May 

 (about a fortnight after the arrival of the birds) and lasts through June; 

 most eggs being laid about May 20—30. In Montenegro Fiihrer took 

 40 nests between May 27 and July 5. Only one brood is reared; in- 

 cubation lasts 14 days, and the hen is relieved by the cock about mid-day 

 and towards evening. 



Average of 100 eggs (50 by Rey and 50 by the writer) 22.42x16.06 

 mm.. Max. 26 X 15.1 and (according to Reiser) 23.8 X 18.2 mm., Min. 

 19 X 14.5 and 19.25 X 14 mm. As will be seen, these eggs vary much in 

 shape and size, some being much elongated, while others are almost spherical 

 (19.5 X 16.4 mm.). Rey gives the average weight as 172 mg., and in a 

 series of 35 eggs weighed by Reiser the weight varies from 135 to 200 mg. 



[Red headed Bunting, Emberiza luteola Sparrm. 



Plate 14, fig. 10, 11 (Kuldscha). 

 Eggs: Ibis 1904, pi. Ill, fig. 7-9. 

 Emberiza luteola Sparrm. Dresser, Birds of Europe, IX, p. 211; id. Man. 



Nest. 



Eggs. 



Breeding Range: Transcaspia, Afghanistan, Turkestan and S. W. Siberia 

 as far as the Altai Range. (Has occurred twice on Helgoland.) 



This bird is said to frequent lowlands and cultivated ground, building a 

 flattish nest about 4j to 5| in. in diameter, with a rim 1 — 14- in. thick. It is 

 usually placed either on, or at a short distance from the ground in a small bush, 

 and is composed of dry grasses, stalks, leaves and twigs loosely put together, lined 

 with finer grasses and frequently also with horsehair. 



The eggs are 3 to 4 in number, similar in character to those of the 

 preceding species, but usually paler in ground colour. Some specimens are not 

 unlike light eggs of the White Wagtail. They are sparsely marked with fine 

 ochreous brown spots, and still finer underlying ashy specks, on a pale greenish 

 or bluish white ground. The markings tend to form a cap at the big end. In 

 one clutch from Transcaspia the spots are purplish red in colour, but this is 

 unusual. The breeding season lasts throughout May. 



