G12 Mr. D. A. Bannerman on the 



depends on sex, and believes that four specimens in my 

 collection labelled males are in reality females. If this is 

 the case, it will be seen that the wiiig-measnrement of males 

 varies from 93 to 102 mm., and of females from 85 to 90 mm. 

 Again, the birds obtained on the high ground had more 

 ^elloAvish under parts and the spotting on tlie breast was 

 considerably coarser. 



That Corn-Buntings inhabiting the same island or 

 country vary considerably in both colour and size is borne 

 out by the large series in the Tring Museum. 



Dr. Hartert has kindly sent me two birds from Sardinia 

 Avhich are so widely different in the markings of the breast, 

 as also in the size of the wing, as to appear at first sight 

 perfectly distinct species ; others from ]\lorucco and Algeria 

 shew tlie same diiferences only to a ksser degree. 



In the Oin. Jahrb. (1903) Dr. Tschusi separated the 

 Canary Island form under the name E. c. thanntri on the 

 ground that the markings were coarser and darker tlian in 

 E. caJandra. Dr. Lorenz has been good enough to send me 

 the types of this subspecies from Vienna, which I have care- 

 fully compared with the large series at my disposal. I do 

 not consider this form sufficiently distinct to be worthy of 

 subspecilic rank. As I have shown above, individuals from 

 the same islands vary to such a large extent amongst 

 themselves that it seems impossible to find any constant 

 characters. The description which Dr. Tschusi gives applies 

 to examples in my collection from San Mateo and elsewhere 

 in the hills, but to none of the specimens obtained on the 

 coast; moreover^ it is equally applicable to many examples 

 of Emberiza from Europe. Dr. Sassi is, I believe, of the 

 same opinion as myself. 



Corn-Buntings are found very plentifully in certain parts 

 of Gran Canaria, especially in tlie neighbourhood of San 

 Mateo. In February (1912) literally hundreds of these 

 Buntings were to be found in the corn-fields above the 

 village, and their rasping call resounded from every tree. 



