470 RARE BRITISH BIRDS 



In Russia it is only found in North Finland, the Kola Peninsula, the Archangel government, the 

 lower Petschora, and the White Sea district. In Asia it breeds in Siberia, but is replaced by a 

 subspecific form in the east, and by others in North America. On migration it visits Germany, 

 and occasionally Austro -Hungary and Italy, and there are about fifty records from the British 

 Isles, though many are not well authenticated. [F. c. R. j.] 



THE BUNTINGS 1 



[ORDER : Passeriformes. FAMILY : Fringillidce. SUBFAMILY : Emberizince] 



PINE-BUNTING [Emberiza leucoce'phala S. G. Gmelin. French, bruant a couronne lactee; 

 German, Fichtenammer ; Italian, zigolo gola rosso]. 



1. Description. Recognised by having the crown of the head pure white. Length 

 6J in. [159 mm.]. The adult male differs from the female, and there is a seasonal change of 

 plumage. The adult male has the general colour of the upper parts reddish chesnut, except 

 the crown, which is white; feathers of the mantle mesially streaked with black; lower 

 back, rump, and upper tail-coverts reddish chesnut fringed with whitish ; primaries brownish 

 black, narrowly fringed on the outer web with white ; secondaries similar to the mantle ; tail 

 greyish brown, the three outer pairs with a large patch of white occupying the greater part of 

 the inner web ; chin, throat, and sides of the neck rich chesnut ; a white collar round the fore- 

 neck; chest and sides of body chesnut, fringed with white; middle of the chest, belly, and 

 under tail-coverts white ; axillaries and under wing-coverts white ; iris dark brown. The adult 

 female is similar to the male, but the markings are less pronounced. The adults in winter have 

 all the contour feathers fringed with white, especially those of the chest, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. The breeding grounds of this species lie in Siberia, and extend from the 

 Urals to the mouth of the Amur. It also breeds in N. Mongolia (Bamberg). On migration it 

 is found in North China, Kashmir, Turkestan, Transcaspia, and Afghanistan, and also wanders 

 occasionally westward into Europe, where it has been recorded from Orenburg, Dalmatia, Austria- 

 Hungary, Italy, Heligoland, and South France, as well as once on Fair Island (October 1911). 

 [F. c. R. J.] 



BLAGKHEADED-BUNTING [Emberiza melanocephala Scopoli. French, touant crocote; 

 German, Kappenaminer ; Italian, zigolo capinero]. 



1. Description. Differs from all the other species of buntings in having a black head and 

 yellow under parts. The male differs from the female, and there is a distinct winter plumage. 

 Adult male is 7 in. [178 mm.] in length, and has the head and cheeks deep black; the 

 mantle, back, rump, and upper tail-coverts are orange-chesnut, palest on the rump ; primaries 

 greyish brown ; secondaries blackish brown, broadly margined on the outer web with yellowish 

 brown ; tail feathers greyish brown, darkest on the outer web ; entire under parts rich orange- 

 yellow, brightest on the throat. The adult female is pale chesnut above, tinged with yellow ; 

 top of the head brown, streaked with black, and the under parts dull yellow, tinged with orange 

 on the chest. The adults in winter have the feathers of the back fringed with brownish ash 

 and the yellow of the under parts paler. Iris brown ; upper mandible brown ; lower mandible 

 grey ; legs and feet flesh-colour, [w. p. p. and T. w.] 



2. Distribution. The breeding range of this species in Europe only includes the Balkan 

 Peninsula and South Russia, but an occasional instance of nesting is recorded from North 

 Italy, and it is common in Dalmatia. In the Balkan Peninsula it is chiefly confined to the 

 countries south of Montenegro and the Balkans. It is also a plentiful breeding species in the 

 Archipelago, Crete, Asia Minor, Cyprus, Palestine, Persia, and Baluchistan. Its normal winter 



1 Vol. i. p. 157. 



