130 Commander H. Lynes on a 



EmBEKIZA CIRLUS L. 



The Cirl Bunting was not met with in Egypt and not for 

 certain in Crete. At Platea in mid-winter it was found 

 plentiful. In Sicily it was breeding commonly, four nests 

 of eggs partially incubated having been found between 25th 

 May and 2nd June. In Sardinia the species occurred in 

 winter, and was about to breed on 3rd May. In Malta it was 

 never met with. 



Emberiza hortiilana L. 



Egypt. — Ortolans passed through on migration in small 

 numbers during September. On 8th September they were 

 rather plentiful in parties from four to nine strong. On the 

 12th, when the ship was at sea a few miles north of Port 

 Said, a single Ortolan was seen. 



Crete. — The species was found to be a summer visitor in 

 moderate numbers, arriving in flocks from 8th April. Some 

 probably passed on further north, while many were paired, 

 courting and singing on the 25th, while breeding flocks were 

 still to be seen about. By the 28th these migrants seemed 

 to have departed. 



Malta and Sardinia. — On migration, 25th April and 3rd 

 May respectively. 



The stomachs of specimens collected in Crete contained 

 small beetles, snails, and a few seeds. 



Emberiza c^sia Cretzschm. 



Cretzschmar's Bunting was found as a summer visitor to 

 Crete and Athens and probably also to Smyrna, where it was 

 plentiful on 7th August. In Egypt an adult female was shot 

 on 25th August, and one or two at a time were seen in 

 September. 



Crete. — The species arrived on 8th April in small parties 

 of both sexes. Some individuals seemed to pair at once 

 and start breeding, others passed on. 



Athens. — Between April 13th and 22nd Cretzschmar's 

 Bunting was plentiful, frequenting the lower slopes of the 

 rocky and sparsely scrub-clad hills. On the 16th, a pair (the 

 female having one soft-slielled egg in the uterus and two ripe 



