636 Mr. J. D. D. La Touche— Field-Notes on 



of this species. On their arrival from the north these birds 

 are in worn summer-plumage. They begin to moult at once, 

 flocks composed of individuals in all stages of the moult 

 being met with throughout September. Towards the middle 

 of that month they seem to have lost their tails, and when on 

 the wing look like small Quail. By the end of September 

 most of them have assumed their winter dress, and from 

 that time they gradually leave. They reappear in May, 

 among scrub on the hills and among the crops in the plain, 

 when they arc extremely numerous. The adults are then 

 in full breeding-dress. 



On May 8, 1904, while walking out to the hills, I saw, 

 on some large trees near the road, flocks of this species all 

 singing and twittering in concert. This chorus of song was 

 extremely beautiful and impressive. The birds were very 

 wild, and I could not approach within shot; but, as they 

 flew off, I recognised them as being E. aureola. 



95. Emberiza rutila Pall. 

 Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 355. 



Passes in May and October. On May 5, 1901, I saw 

 great numbers on the hills. I have a young bird, in moult, 

 shot on October 6. 



96. Emberiza passerina Pall. 

 Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 355. 



Very abundant in winter among the reeds. 



97. Emberiza yessoensis Swinhoe. 

 Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 355. 



I shot a single female example of this Bunting on 

 November 1, on the low brushwood- covered hills a few miles 

 from Chinkiang. I saw no other specimen during my stay 

 at Chinkiang, but no doubt I overlooked the species while 

 shooting in the recd-beds. 



98. Emberiza pyrrhulina Swinhoe. 



? Emberiza jiyrrhuloides Pall. ; Styan, Ibis, 1891, p. 334. 

 I shot a female of this Japanese species on March 9. 

 It was perched on a thin willow-bush overhanging a pond, 



