66 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



when it is common in the pine-woods and birch-forests. It 

 has an " unobtrusive and quiet song." In winter, like other 

 Buntings, it assembles in flocks. 



Nest. This is described by Mr. Seebohm as "a hole made 

 in the dead leaves, moss, and grass, copiously and carefully 

 lined with fine dead grass." Two other nests found by him 

 were lined with reindeer-hair. 



Eggs. Three to five in number. Like miniature eggs of the 

 Corn-Bunting, the ground-colour varying from stone-grey to 

 pinkish-brown, with underlying grey markings, and conspicuous 

 overlying spots and scribblings of purplish-black and reddish- 

 brown. Axis, o'7-o'8 inch; diam., o'5-o - 6. 



THE RUSTIC BUNTING. EMBER IZA RUSTICA. 



Emberiza rustica, Pall. Reise. Russ. Reichs., iii., p. 698 

 (1776); Newt. ed. Yarr., ii., p. 29(1876); Dresser, B. 

 Eur., iv., p. 229, pi. 219 (1877); B. O. U. List Br. B., p. 

 61 (1883); Seeb., Br. B., ii., p. 140 (1884); Sharpe, Cat. 

 B. Brit. Mus., xii., p. 490 (1888); Saunders, Man., p. 207 

 (1889). 



Adult Male. Above chestnut, streaked with black, with 

 ashy margins to the feathers ; lesser wing-coverts chestnut ; 

 under surface of body white, with a chestnut band across the 

 fore-neck, the sides of the body also streaked ivith chestnut ; 

 breast distinctly streaked ; ear-coverts brown ; a broad white 

 eyebrow; base of chin black. Total length, 5 inches; cul- 

 men, 0-45 ; wing, 3-0 ; tail, 2'o ; tarsus, 075. 



In winter the whole colour of the bird is duller, the feathers 

 being margined with buff, these pale edgings wearing off in 

 spring, and leaving the breeding plumage in all its brilliancy. 



Adult Female. Duller in colour than the male, and lacking 

 the rufous colour on the hea>d and throat ; lesser wing-coverts 

 brown instead of chestnut ; under surface of body buffy-white, 

 the throat more isabelline. Total length, 5-5 inches; wing, 



2'95- 



Young. Resembles the old female, but has the throat 

 yellowish-buff, the fore-neck and chest streaked with blackish 



