Professor Doderlein says that it is extremely rare in Sicily, and only one single example is recorded 

 by Benoit, obtained in the neighbourhood of Messina in 1847. Count Salvadori doubts its occur, 

 rence in Sardinia. Mr. C. A.Wright thus notes its occurrence in Malta: — "A specimen was 

 obtained in 1867, and kept alive in a cage for some months. Drs. Giulia and Delicata also 

 mention having observed it." Lord Lilford says it " arrives in Corfu and Epirus in great numbers 

 in April, and remains to breed, disappearing in September ; has an agreeable song. This bird is 

 known in Corfu by the name of ' Ortolano.' " Our friend Mr. Hanbury Barclay has also lent us a 

 pair shot in the same island, by one of his collectors, from the nest. Captain Sperling remarks : — 

 " I observed lots of these birds in the high reeds at Butrinto ; but they were very artful in 

 dodging out of sight." Mr. W. H. Hudlestone also, during his residence in Messolonghi and 

 Southern iEtolia, found them abundant in the gardens and vineyards. Dr. Kriiper writes to us 

 that this species is very common in Greece and Asia Minor, rarer in Macedonia and on Mount 

 Olympus. It arrives late in April or early in May. In a recent paper he remarks as follows : — 

 " It is found in all vineyards and bushes, both on the plains and in the mountains of Naxos, 

 though not in large numb ers. I procured many nests." 



Messrs .Elwes and Buckley did not procure the species themselves in Turkey, but they 

 published some information respecting it from Mr. Robson, who has also kindly sent us the 

 following note : — " This species is numerous in Asiatic and European Turkey. A summer 

 visitant, it arrives in the latter end of April in small flocks, and feeds for a while on open 

 grounds amongst the grasses on the mountain-sides, and it is found in summer on cultivated and 

 uncultivated open grounds, but rarely on mountains." Professor von Nordmann writes as 

 follows : — " It is common near the fortified towns of Soukhoum-kaleh and Pizounda, in Abasia, 

 where I have seen several couples paired. There in its own country it is quite tame, perching on 

 the tops of small trees, or moving about amongst the herbage without taking notice of passers 

 by." Kessler states that Professor Andrzejowski observed it near Kiew in 1837. Menetries 

 procured this pretty bird during his expedition to the Caucasus, and says that it is " common 

 enough not far from the Caspian Sea, from Kizil-Agaz to Lenkoran, and also on the mountains 

 of Zalyche." In the same work he describes a new species of Bunting as E. granativora, which 

 seems to have been rightly referred to the present bird, notwithstanding that he professes to 

 describe both sexes. 



Canon Tristram's notes on the species in Palestine are as follows : — " The so-called Black- 

 headed Bunting (Euspiza melanocephala) has nothing in its habits and appearance to recall the 

 true Emberizince. It is a very common and conspicuous bird in spring and summer. I was in 

 error in stating (P. Z. S. 1864, p. 446) that it returns in April. On reference to my note-book 

 I find I did not observe it before the first week in May ; and its plumage is too brilliant for it 

 easily to escape notice." 



Jerdon gives the following account of the species in the ' Birds of India ' : — " The Black- 

 headed Bunting is found in India only in the North-western Provinces, most abundant in the 

 Deccan, and thence extending to the Upper Provinces of Hindustan. It makes its appearance 

 in the Deccan usually about the end of November, is found in immense flocks, and is very 

 destructive to the crops of jowaree and other grains. It leaves early in March, and certainly 

 does not breed in any part of India." 



