228 



6 



indistinct scratches of brown, resembling eggs of the Grey Wagtail ; others have the ground- 

 colour pale greenish, clouded with purplish grey, and scratched all over with the peculiar dark 

 markings so general among all Buntings' eggs. In size they measure from f^ of an inch by f^ 

 to -Si hv 3-4 



The title credited to Lepechin by Gmelin, namely that of E. sibirica, was never given to the 

 species in the volume of the St.-Petersburg Transactions quoted. Only a detailed description 

 and no title was given ; and Lepechin's name of pinetorum, published in the second volume of 

 his ' Itinera,' was also never properly recorded. The original descriptions of Emberiza selysii and 

 E. dolichonica we have been obliged to quote from Degland and Gerbe, not being able to find the 

 works in which they were first characterized. Dr. Bree quotes as a synonym Emberiza sibirica, 

 Eversmann (Mege Erman), a name we cannot find in any of the works we have examined of this 

 author. Again, Dr. Cabanis gives " E. sibirica, Erman, Beise, Atlas, tab. 6;" but on referring to 

 this plate the bird seems to be properly designated E. aureola, both in the letterpress and on the 

 plate. 



The descriptions and figures of the adult birds are from birds in our own collection ; the 

 variations in plumage are described from specimens in the fine collection of Messrs. Salvin and 

 Godman, while the nestling is also in our own cabinet. The winter plumage is described from 

 Chinese specimens in Canon Tristram's collection. An excellent series of figures is given by 

 Badde (Beise, Slid. Ost-Sibir. Taf. iv.), showing the different stages of plumage assumed by 

 this bird. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 



a. 2 . Siberia (Dode). b. ? jun. Siberia, June 23rd (Dode). c. $ . Lake Baikal, July 7th, 1855 (G. Radde). 

 d. Pianowa, Irkutsk, June 12th (G. Radde). e. Porog, on the river Onega, July 10th, 1869 (Meves). 



E Mus. Salvin and Godman. 

 a. d • Archangel (Moeschler). b. $. Porog, river Onega, July 10th, 1869 (Meves). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 u, b. Canton, October 1861 (R. Swinhoe). 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a. Northern Russia (Parzudaki). 



E Mus. Hoivard Saunders. 

 a. d. Amoor Land {Frank), b. ?. Archangel (Moeschler). c. d 2 . N. Russia (Meves). 



