130 THE FOOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



799. E. melanocephala. Black-headed Bunting. Notorious 

 for the ravages it commits in cornfields. Imp. Gaz., I., 245. 



Great devastation in cornfields. F. L, II, 352. 



Very destructive to crops of Jowari and other grains. Jerd. 

 B. I., II, 378. 



A common winter visitant, joining with the Weaver-birds 

 in plundering the grain fields. Bom. Gaz., Vol. XX, 514 

 (Sholapur). 



803. Melophus melanicterus. Crested Bunting. Grasshop- 

 pers : also same to young. 



Coccothraustince are entirely confined to the hills and feed ap- 

 parently entirely on hard or stony fruits. They may possibly be 

 found to make inroads on some orchard fruits, but are not 

 recorded as doing so. 



FringillincB. Bull Finches, Cross-bills and Rose Finches may 

 all be expected to do some damage to orchard fruits, though this is 

 probably counterbalanced by the other forms of food taken. With 

 the exception of the Common Rose Finch and the Desert Finch 

 they are confined to the hills. 



We have no definite proof that the Sparrows are pests in India. 

 The few records available and references seem to point that 

 they are beneficial. Seeing, however, what pests these birds are in 

 other countries it appears that they certainly do not merit protec- 

 tion. Only 4 species are found in the plains. 



EmberizincB. The Buntings, most of those that occur in the 

 plains being winter migrants (2 species apparently are residents), 

 do some considerable damage to grain. Little is on record other- 

 wise, and as with the FringillinaB the young are fed to a great extent 

 on insects, mostly caterpillars. I noted this of the Yellow Ammer 

 (Emberizina citrinelh) in England and in all probability the .Indian 

 species have practically the same feeding habits. Emberiza 

 hortulana, the true Ortolan of Europe, is but occasionally seen in 

 India. 



