EMBERIZA 363 



or hiding in the dense underbush, On passage, and in winter 

 it collects in large flocks and is seen on the birch trees, and 

 amongst the bushes. Its call-note is not unlike that of the 

 Redwing, and its song is described as being melodious and sweet. 

 Like its congeners it feeds on insects and seeds< It breeds in 

 N. E. Finland, N". Russia, and Northern Siberia, making a 

 rather loose nest of wiry grass-bents and depositing in June 

 5 to 6 eggs greenish grey in colour with olivaceous brown blotches 

 and without any scratchy lines, measuring about 0'78 by 0'58. 

 Occasionally the ground colour is reddish in tinge. 



523. LITTLE BUNTING. 

 EMBERIZA PUSILLA. 



Emberha pmilla, Pall. Reise Russ. Reichs, iii. p. 697 (1776) ; Naum. 

 xiii. 2, p. 175, Taf. 382, figs. 3,- 4 ; Gould, B. of Gt. Brit. iii. pi. 25 ; 

 id. B. of Asia, v. pi. 7 ; Newton, ii. p. 4 ; Dresser, iv. p. 235, pi. 220 ; 

 David and Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 323 ; Sharpe, Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. 

 p. 487 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, ii. p. 254 ; Tacz. F. 0. Sib. 0. 

 p. 594 ; Saunders, p. 219 ; Lilford, iv. p. 22, pi. 12. 



Zigolo minore, Ital. ; Ziuergammer, German ; Dwerggors, 

 Dutch ; Dvcergverliny, Dan. ; VahdsirkJcu, Finn. 



^ ad. (N. Russia). Crown, nape, and sides of tlie head, including the 

 ear-coverts and lores, chestnut-red ; sides of the crown extending behind 

 the ear-coverts black ; upper parts greyish wood-brown, streaked with 

 black, the rump greyer ; rectrices and remiges dark brown, margined with 

 rusty buff ; the outer rectrix with a large and the second with a small 

 white stripe ; chin rusty buff ; the rest of the under parts white, the breast 

 spotted, the flanks striped with blackish brown, the latter slightly washed 

 with buff ; bill horn-brown, paler below ; legs brown ; iris dark brown. 

 Culmen 0'35, wing 2'8, tail 2'35, tarsus 0'75 inch. The female differs in 

 being duller in colour, and in having the under parts more densely 

 spotted. 



Hctb. N. Russia as far west as Onega, and east right across 

 Siberia to the Amoor ; on passage, and in winter in Manchuria, 

 Mongolia, China, Burma, the Andamans, the Himalayas from 

 the Sutlej valley to Assam ; strays to Europe where it has been 

 obtained in S. Sweden, Germany, Holland, Belgium, S. France, 

 Italy, Austria, Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, twice in Algeria, and 

 has occurred twice in England. 



Frequents the forest and also bush-covered plains, and is said 

 to be tame and confiding in its habits. As a rule it appears 



