EMBERIZA 349 



brown, whereas those of E. aureola, (which they resemble in 

 character) are olivaceous. In size they measure about 0'69 by 

 0-54. 



506. YELLOW-BEEASTED BUNTING. 

 EMBERIZA AUREOLA. 



Emberiza aureola, Pall. Reis. Russ. Reichs, ii. p. 711 (1773) ; Gould, B. 

 of E. iii, p. 174; Naum. xiii. pt. 2, p. 166, taf. 381 figs. 1, 2 ; 

 Dresser, iv. p. 223, pi. 218 ; David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 332 ; 

 Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 509 ; (Tacz.), F. O. Sib. 0. p. 603 ;. 

 Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, ii. p. 259. 



Strenatka tschemolitsaya, Russ. ; Kultasirkku, Finn. 



ad. (Archangel). Forehead, sides of face, ear-coverts, chin, and 

 upper throat deep black ; crown and upper parts deep chestnut, the back 

 striped with black ; quills deep brown margined with fulvous, the 

 secondaries washed with rufous ; least \ving-coverts greyish black, median 

 coverts white, larger coverts dark brown margined with rufous buff and 

 narrowly tipped with dull white : tail blackish brown, the outer feathers 

 chiefly white ; under parts bright yellow, the upper breast crossed by a 

 chestnut band, the flanks striped with blackish brown ; upper mandible 

 dark horn-brown, lower mandible brownish flesh ; legs pale brownish 

 flesh ; iris brown. Culmen, 0*45, wing 3'1, tail 2-2, tarsus 0'75 inch. 

 The female has the upper parts greyish brown, the crown and rump 

 tinged with chestnut, the back striped with black ; wings and tail as in 

 the male, but the median coverts are blackish brown tipped with fulvous 

 white ; chin, lores, and sides of head dark greyish brown, the rest of the 

 under parts pale citron-yellow, the flanks striped with brown. Like its 

 allies the plumage is much duller in the winter owing to the ashy margins 

 to the feathers. 



Hob. Northern Russia, west to the frontier of Finland, east 

 across Siberia to Japan and as far north as Kamchatka ; in 

 winter ranging south to China, Siam, and the southern 

 extremity of the Malay peninsula; in the west to Palestine, 

 and as a rare straggler it has occurred in central France, and 

 Italy. 



Frequents bush-covered plains on the outskirts of the forests, 

 willow-thickets in damp places, and occurs in the mountains to 

 an altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 feet, and in the winter frequents 

 reed- and rush-beds. Its song, which is short but pleasant, is 

 uttered from the top of a bush or a plant-stem, and it is said to 

 be a most industrious songster. Its nest is placed on the ground 



