184: FEINGILLID^] EMBERIZA 



very small, the second, third, and fourth nearly equal. Tail rather 

 long and slightly forked. Tarsus scutellated anteriorly, each side 

 covered by an undivided plate which forms a sharp ridge behind, 

 about as long as the middle toe ; claws considerably curved, that of 

 the hind toe moderately long. Plumage very variable, sometimes 

 rather gaudy. The male generally considerably brighter than the 

 female. One complete moult in the year, in autumn ; some of the 

 species with a partial spring moult as well, but all lose the tips of 

 the worn feathers in spring, and with this change their colour to a 

 certain extent. About thirty-six species of typical Buntings are 

 known, distributed over Europe, Asia, and Africa. Two species 

 only occur in South Africa, but at least eight others are found in 

 Africa to the north of the Zambesi Eiver. Buntings usually 

 frequent fairly open country, some, however, are confined to 

 marshy spots, others to rocky ground and mountain sides. They 

 feed on the ground as a rule, on seeds and insects. The majority 

 have peculiarly monotonous, drawling notes, which they utter from 

 some elevated station, such as the top of a bush or rock. Their 

 nests are built on the ground, in bushes, or among reeds. Their 

 eggs are usually to be recognised by the peculiar zig-zag scrawls 

 with which they are covered. 



Key to the Species. 



a. Crown black, with a central streak of white E. flaviventris, p. 184. 

 6. Crown rufous-brown streaked with black 



and centred with a white streak E. major oriental, p. 186. 



<ti^^yV 

 101. Emberiza flaviYentris. Golden-breasted Bunting. 



Passerina flaviventris, Vieill. Enc.Meth. ii, p. 929 (1823). 



Fringillaria flaviventris, Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 206 (1867) ; Gitrney in 



Andersson's B. Damara Land, p. 188 (1872) ; Sharpe, ed. Layard' s 



B. S. Afr. pp. 491, 851 (1884). 

 Emberiza flaviventris, Sharpe, Cat. B. M. xii, p. 499 (1888) ; Shelley, 



B. Afr. i, p. 18 (1896). 



" Strep-kopje " (Stripe-head) of the Dutch. 



Description. Adult male in summer. Above, crown black with 

 a white streak down the centre ; lores and eyebrow white ; a streak 

 through the eye and upper ear-coverts black ; a broad streak below 

 the eye and across lower ear-coverts white ; cheeks black ; nape 



