424 Mr. M. J. NicoU — Contributions 



of specimens were obtained. They were apparently new 

 arrivals^ as all those shot were in poor condition. Ou one 

 occasion I caught one of these Buntings alive by driving it 

 into a native house. 



Egyptian examples of Corn Buntings are much paler and 

 greyer than British specimens. 



Embekiza c^sia Cretzschmar. 



Emberiza casta Shelley, p. 146. 



This Bunting was exceedingly common during my visit 

 in March 1910. All those met with were consorting with 

 Ortolans and Tree-Pipits in a small patch of cultivation — 

 wheat and clover ; so closely were they congregated that 

 on several occasions I obtained two or three examples at 

 a shot. The call-note of Cretzschmar's Bunting is a very 

 soft chirp, and owing to its unobtrusive habits it is quite 

 easy to pass over a large flock when among standing corn 

 or clover. 



Emberiza hortulana Linn. 



Emberiza hortulana Shelley, p. 145. 



Ortolans were not uncommon during my stay in March, 

 and were always found feeding together with Cretzsch- 

 mar's Buntings and Tree-Pipits in the clover and wheat 

 patches. 



Pyrrhulauda melanauchen (Cab*). 



For this interesting addition to the Avifauna of Egypt 

 I am indebted to Mr. Balboni, who forwarded to me, in the 

 flesh, a perfect male example, which he had shot in the 

 cultivated land on September 10th, 191 1. The occurrence of 

 a Pinch- Lark in the Wadi Natron is surprising, but the speci- 

 men shews absolutely no signs of having been in captivity, 

 and from the entire absence of fat on the body I conclude 

 that it had just arrived in the Wadi after a long journey. 



In addition I have had several other equally surprising 

 visitors from this locality, i. e., the Fieldfare and Golden 

 Oriole referred to above, and the Oyster-catcher^ which I 

 shall mention later. 



