107 



it is common iu the S. Norwegian valleys and in the S. W. provinces of 

 Sweden, but comparatively rarely found N. of Stockholm, except along the coast. 



The situation varies according to locality. Thus in Sweden it is Nest. 

 generally found in the green rye fields, and in the great plain of central 

 Europe among the corn; but in Norway it haunts the bush grown hillsides, 

 and nests in similar places as a rule in the Iberian and Balkan peninsulas. 

 It is placed either on, or close to the ground, in a slight hollow, under 

 shelter of growing crops or bushes, and is built of dead grasses and roots, 

 lined with finer roots and sometimes hair, somewhat carelessly constructed. 

 Approximate diameter 3f in., height 2 in. In northern Europe the mono- 

 tonous, 'Tink, tink, tink-tjohrr' of the cock ma}^ be heard till late in the 

 summer nights (Wheelwright), 



Usuall}^ 5 or 6 in number, but sometimes only 4 are found. The Eggs. 

 ground colour varies from bluish white to creamy and warm pinkish or 

 reddish grey, rather sparsely spotted with very dark purple brown markings 

 and occasionally a few streaks or scrawls of the same colour. There are 

 generally a few underlying streaks and spots of pale violet grey. Now 

 and then an egg is met with almost devoid of markings, and one set has 

 the spots in the form of a zone. 



In Spain eggs may be found from May 5 (Chapman), while in Greece Breeding 

 and Asia Minor the usual time is from May 13 onwards, and in central 

 Europe the latter half of May. In Scandinavia most eggs are laid in the 

 second half of May and early in June, and in Finland towards the beginning 

 of June. As will be seen the breeding season varies very little, for even 

 in Norwa}^ and Sweden full clutches are occasionally found at the beginning 

 of May. Apparently only one brood is reared. 



Average of 100 eggs (29 by Key and 71 by the writer) 19.73 X 15.29 Measure- 

 mm.. Max. 22 X 16.25 and 20 X 17 mm., Min. 18.2 X 16 and 18.8 X 14.3 "''"*'• 

 mm. These measurements are sometimes slightly exceeded: 22.5 X 16.5 

 (Reiser, Greece), 19 X 14.1 (Westerlund, Sweden) and 18 X 14.5 (Bau). 

 Average weight of 36 eggs, 142 mg. (Bau); Rey gives as average, 158 mg. 



51. Orey necked Bunting, Emlberiza buchanani Blyth. 



Emheriza Jmttoni Blyth. Dresser, Birds of Europe, IX, p. 215; id. 

 Man. Pal. Birds, p. 357. E. hichanani Blyth. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, 

 p. 182. 



Breeding Range: Has occurred in the Caucasus (Derbent) and 

 Crimea. [Transcaspia, Turkestan, Persia and Afghanistan.] 



The only definite information as to the breeding of this bird is that 

 given by Blanford {Zoology and Geology of E. Persia, p. 259). He found 

 a nest with 3 well-incubated eggs on May 22, at an elevation of 8000 ft. Nest. 



