EMBERIZINJE. 271 



feathers. Specimens differ widely in this respect ; in some the 

 greyish-white is a mere edging to dusky black feathers ; in 

 others only a few black spots and streaks peep out of an almost 

 unbroken grey, and this among specimens killed at the same time, 

 and of apparently the same age ; the lower breast and the whole 

 lower parts of the body are pale greyish-rufous, all the bases of 

 the feathers (only seen if their tips are lifted), being a sort of 

 bluish-dusky ; the axillaries, wing-lining, and, in fact, the whole 

 lower surface of the wings, except the points of the quills, a 

 pate delicate salmon-rufous. 



" The female only differs in being generally somewhat smaller, 

 in having the white, grey, and black of the head, neck, throat 

 and breast much duller (and in many specimens overcast with 

 a sandy or pale-rufous shade), in the various stripes being less 

 well marked, and in having the dark spots and streaks of the 

 throat almost obsolete." Hume, " Ibis," 1869. 



The Striolated Bunting occurs as a winter visitant to Sind, 

 Bajputana, Kutch and Guzerat. It does not occur in the 

 Deccan. 



GENUS, Euspiza, Bonap. 



Bill strong, sub-conic, with the mandibles about equal, and 

 scarcely a trace of a palatal knob ; wings and tail rather long, 

 firm. 



Euspiza melanocephala, Scop. 



721. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 378; Butler, Guzerat; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 497 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 

 IX, p. 417 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 188 ; 

 Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 129. 



THE BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 



Length, 7'5 to 8 ; wing, 3'8 to 4 ; tail, 3 ; tarsus, 0'9 ; bill at 

 front, 0-5. 



Bill yellowish-brown ; irides light-brown ; legs yellowish-brown. 



Whole head, including the ear-coverts, black, the feathers 

 generally (i.e., winter) edged light-brown, this disappearing 

 towards spring ; back and scapulars rich chesnut, passing to 

 yellowish on the rump and upper tail-coverts, the feathers being 

 edged with bright-yellow, passing behind the ear-coverts to the 

 nape ; the side of breast chesnut, continuous with the color of 

 the back. 



The Black-headed Bunting is a rather common cold weather 

 visitant to all parts of the region. It is very destructive in the 

 corn fields, when jowaree, bajri, and other cereals are ripening. 



Euspiza luteola, Sparr. 



722. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 378 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. Ill, p. 498 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 



