Ornithological Notes from Afghanistan. 65 
(714) EmBeERiza STRACHEYI. 
Emberiza stracheyi, Moore, P. Z.S. 1855, p. 215, pl. 112. 
I follow Mr. Dresser (B. of E. pt. 12) in keeping this 
species separate from Hmberiza cia. My Afghan specimens 
are identical with those from Northern India in the collection 
of the late Lord Tweeddale, showing no white tips to the 
wing-coverts—a constant difference between the two species, 
as pointed out by Mr. Dresser (op. cit.). 
The White-necked Bunting, as Jerdon calls it, is found on 
all the lower pine-clad slopes of the Safed-Koh, as well as of 
the Peiwar spur. It does not seem to affect the open coun- 
try, where Lmberiza stewarti is so very abundant. I found 
it breeding on the 19th June at the foot of the Peiwar Kotul 
at about 8000 feet. 
(718) EMBERIZA STEWARTI. 
Euspiza stewarti, Blyth, J. A. 8S. B. xxiii. p. 215. 
Specimens from the Hariab valley agree with others from 
Northern India. 
In the full summer-plumage the head is ashy white above, 
the cheeks, ear-coverts, and upper breast being pure white; 
the superciliary streak and throat jet-black ; the back, rump, 
and pectoral band bright reddish chestnut, unspotted. In the 
winter the head and back become greyish brown, each feather 
dark-shafted, sparingly splashed with chestnut ; the upper 
breast becomes smoky grey, a small spot under the throat 
only remaining pure white; the pectoral band becomes 
narrower and mottled with smoke-grey. The chestnut uro- 
pygium and upper tail-coverts remain unchanged. 
This Bunting began to breed towards the end of April ; and 
during the months of May and June I found great num- 
bers of their nests. They were almost all situated under 
roots on sloping banks or hill-sides, and were composed en- 
tirely of dried grass. The eggs were generally four in num- 
ber; but I have found five. They vary exceedingly, both in 
size and colour, in different nests—some sittings being pale 
blue thickly spotted with purplish brown, and with a few 
irregular bunting-like blotches and dashes. In another nest 
SER. IV.—VOL. IV. F 
