EMEERIZA 367 



a bush close to the ground. The eggs, which are deposited in 

 June, resemble those of the Ortolan but are much smaller, in 

 size averaging about 0'74 by 0'57. 



528. WHITE-CAPPED BUNTING. 

 EMEERIZA STEWARTI. 



Emleriza stewarti, Blyth, J.A.S. Beng. xxiii. p. 215 (1854) ; Sharpe, 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. xii. p. 547 ; Gates, F. Brit. Ind. Birds, ii. p. 256 ; 

 E. caniceps, Gould, B. of Asia, v. pi. 6 (1854). 



<J ad. (Himalayas). Crown, nape, and sides of the head greyish white ; 

 lores, a broad supercilium nearly meeting on the nape, chin, upper throat, 

 and a streak on each side of the throat deep black ; upper parts and lesser 

 wing-coverts warm rusty red or pale chestnut, marked on the back with 

 black ; quills and tail blackish brown with narrow pale margins, the two 

 outer rectrices with the inner web nearly all white ; under parts white 

 with a broad chestnut band across the breast ; flanks slightly streaked 

 with rusty brown ; bill brown, paler below ; legs fleshy pink ; iris reddish 

 brown. Culmen 0*4, wing 3% tail 2'8, tarsus 0*75 inch. The female has 

 the forehead, crown, hind-neck, and back ashy brown streaked with dull 

 black, the scapulars tinged with chestnut ; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 chestnut with paler margins, the shafts black ; tail with rather less white ; 

 lores and orbital region fulvous ; sides of neck and ear-coverts brown ; 

 rest of the under parts pale fulvous streaked with dull brown. In the 

 winter dress like almost all the Buntings the feathers have brownish 

 margins, the plumage being consequently much duller in colour. 



Hob. Turkestan, Afghanistan ; the Himalayas from the 

 Hazara country, Gilgit, and Kashmir to about Almora ; winter- 

 ing on the plains of India ; has been obtained in Sind. 



In habits it is said by Jerdon to resemble E. citrinella. It 

 breeds in Afghanistan, and in the Himalayas at an altitude of 

 5000 to 7000 feet, commencing nidification in April, the eggs 

 being deposited in May and June. The nest which is placed in 

 a bush close to the ground or on sloping banks or hillsides, is 

 constructed of dry grass. The eggs 4 or 5 in number vary 

 extremely both in size and colour, some being pale blue, thickly 

 spotted with purplish brown and with a few irregular Bunting- 

 like blotches and dashes; others are greyish white profusely 

 spotted and speckled with reddish brown, and with deep purplish 

 brown blotches. In size they average about )78 by 0'59. 



