MARSH BUNTING. 143 



form of trie beak, and by the tarsi being proportionately shorter and 

 thicker. It also differs in its habits. It never leaves the reed-beds 

 like schcenicuhis, and the two species never mingle together. Finally, 

 whilst schceniculus is very good to eat, this bird has a strong smell 

 of formic acid. With all this, it is difficult to consider the two 

 species as perfectly distinct, since, whilst in the two extremes from 

 the individual with the little sharp beak to that with the strong and 

 obtuse beak, there are specimens intermediate, and the same may be 

 said of the tarsi. It is this intermediatory character which is the 

 origin of the E. intermedia of Michahelles. Individuals thus constituted 

 are very common in Italy/' 



The following is Savi's description: — The male in breeding plumage 

 has the beak thick, compressed laterally, curved above and below, 

 obtuse at the point, and of a black colour. It rather resembles a 

 Sparrow's beak, but is shorter. Head, neck, throat, and middle part 

 of breast black; there is a large white band beginning at the angle 

 of the beak, and uniting itself with the white of the flanks and ab- 

 domen. Scapularies black, broadly margined with fulvous chesnut; 

 the rest of the upper feathers ashy black, margined with chesnut. 

 Flanks and abdomen white; upon the flanks longitudiual spots of 

 obscure black. Primaries black, margined with chesnut, the lesser 

 wing coverts having a broader margin of fulvous chesnut; under wing 

 coverts white. The first tail feather white, with a large black wedge- 

 shaped spot on the inner web at the base, and a smaller one at the 

 tip; the second tail feather black, with a white wedge-shaped spot at 

 the tip on the inner side; the other tail feathers black; the two 

 middle feathers edged with brownish yellow. Feet rather robust, 

 and obscurely black; claws black. 



In autumn the adult male has the feathers of the head, throat, 

 neck, and middle part of chest black, shaded off to the point. The 

 white feathers of the neck become so shaded towards the tip, as 

 almost to obscure the white. All the upper feathers have a bay 

 margin, more extended, terminating in brownish yellow. 



The female has the vertex, sides of the head, and neck of an 

 obscure chesnut colour, with black spots; nape, back, and wings dark 

 brown; a brown band on the cheeks terminates near the ear, the 

 region of which is covered by a nearly black spot; throat and neck 

 white, shaded with russet; from the angle of inferior mandible there 

 is a mottled black band extending to the chest; chest and Hanks 

 white, shaded with russet, and covered with long obscure spots. 



My figure is that of a young male kindly sent me by Mr. Gould. 



This bird has also been figured by Pallas, Zoog., t. 49, 1; in the 



