260 



median coverts almost entirely white ; greater coverts and quills dark 

 brown, margined with chestnut-brown ; a distinct supercilium, lores, 

 cheeks, and ear-coverts ashy yellow ; a band above the ear-coverts 

 and another below chestnut-brown ; the whole lower plumage 

 yellow, with a chestnut band across the breast, and the sides of the 

 body streaked with chestnut-brown ; the under tail-coverts paler 

 than the other parts. 



In the spring the margins on the upper plumage become worn 

 away and the general colour becomes rich maroon chestnut, and in 

 a similar manner the lower plumage becomes rich yellow and the 

 pectoral band broader and deeper chestnut. A change takes place 

 in the colour of the head, but this is effected by a complete moult 

 of the feathers of the parts affected : these parts are the forehead, 

 anterior part of crown, lores, ear-coverts, cheeks, chin, and a small 

 portion of the throat, which become deep black. 



The plumage of the males varies a good deal, as does also the 

 time at which the black on the head is assumed. 



Female. Head chestnut-brown, with dark brown streaks ; nape 

 and back of the neck olive-brown, with indistinct brown streaks 

 and the centres of the feathers tinged with chestnut ; back and 

 scapulars olive-brown, with broad distinct dark brown streaks ; 

 rump pale chestnut, edged with grey ; upper tail-coverts brown, 

 centred darker ; lesser wing-coverts brown ; median ones brown, 

 very broadly tipped with white ; greater coverts and all the quills 

 brown, edged on the outer webs with pale rufous-brown ; tail as in 

 the male ; a broad supercilium reaching to the nape yellowish white ; 

 sides of the head mixed brown and yellowish white; chin and 

 throat whitish ; breast, sides of neck, and abdomen bright yellow, 

 tinged with brown across the breast, which is also faintly streaked 

 with brown ; flanks faint yellow, streaked with brown ; vent and 

 under tail-coverts pale yellow, the latter indistinctly streaked. 



The young bird is very similar to the female, but has no chestnut 

 on the head and rump and the whole breast is boldly streaked with 

 brown. 



Iris rich brown ; upper mandible dark brown, lower fleshy 

 brown ; feet and claws pinkish brown. 



Length 6-2; tail 2'4 ; wing 3 ; tarsus '85 ; bill from gape *55. 

 Distribution. A common winter visitor to the Himalayas from 

 Nepal to Assam and to the whole of the eastern portion of the 

 Empire from Assam southwards to Tenasserim, and also to the 

 Nicobar Islands. This species occurs from October to May, and 

 at this season it ranges to the southern extremity of the Malay 

 peninsula and to China and Siam. In summer it is found chiefly 

 in Northern Asia. 



798. Emberiza spodocephala. The Blade-faced Bunting. 



Emberiza spodocephala, Pall. Reis. Russ. Reichs, iii, p. 698 (1776) ; 

 Jerd. B. I. ii, p. 374 ; Hume, Cut. no. 717 ; id. IS. F. xi, p. 275 ; 

 tiharpe, Cat. B. M. xii, p. d'2'2. 



