EMBERIZA SAHABjE. 



(HOUSE-BUNTING.) 



Emberiza saltan, Levaillant, Jun., Expl. Scient. de l'Algerie, Atlas, Ois. pi. ix. bis, fig. 2 



(1850). 

 Fringillaria Sahara (Levaill., Jun.), Bp. Cat. des Ois. d'Eur. (Parzudaki) p. 18 (1856). 

 Fringillaria sahari (Levaill., Jun.), Loche, Cat. des Mamm. et Ois. observes en Algerie etc. 



p." 61 (1858). 

 Emberiza saharce, Tristram, Ibis, 1859, p. 34. 

 "Fringillaria saharce, Bp.," id. torn. cit. p. 295. 

 Fringillaria (Polymitra) saharce (Levaill., Jun.), Heuglin, Journ. f. Orn. 1870, p. 385. 



Fiseeough, Arabia. 



Figura unica. 

 Levaillant, Jun., ut supra. 



J 1 ad. capite et collo griseo-albidis, nigro striatis : superciliis albis ; corpore supra cinnamomeo-castaneo, 

 indistincte fusco striato : aliis nigro-fuscis, plumis conspicue cinnamomeo-castaneo marginatis : rectri- 

 cibus nigro-fuscis, cinnamomeo-castaneo marginatis : abdomine saturate cinnamomeo : rostro flavido, 

 versus apicem corneo : pedibus carneis : iride fusca. 



$ ad. sordidior et pallidior : capite et collo cervino-cinereis, indistincte nigro-fusco striatis. 



Adult Male (Biskra, March). Head and neck greyish white striped with black; a distinct white stripe 

 over the eye ; upper parts generally bright sandy rufous or bay, the back indistinctly striped with 

 dark brown ; wings and tail blackish brown, the feathers of the latter narrowly margined, and those 

 of the wing broadly margined with bay or pale foxy red ; throat and upper breast greyish white, striped 

 with blackish grey ; rest of the uuderparts warm sandy rufous : bill yellowish at the base, dark horn 

 towards the tip; legs pale fleshy; iris dark brown. Total length about 5'5 inches, culmen 0"45, 

 wing 3"0, tail 2 - 6, tarsus 065. 



Adult Female (Biskra, March). Differs from the male in having the upper parts slightly duller and paler, 

 and the head and neck instead of being greyish white are sandy grey, and the stripes are less 

 distinctly defined. 



Obs. According to Dr. Sharpe the young in winter plumage are " sandy rufous like the adults, but with 

 dusky centres to the feathers, a little plainer than in the adults ; head and throat a little lighter and 

 more ashy isabelline than the back, but not grey, and with scarcely any indications of dusky streaks." 

 Compared with Emberiza striolata, the present species has the upper parts much more rufous and 

 uniform in colour, the dark stripes being much less clearly defined, and the underparts also are much 

 more rufous in tone of colour ; the division between the grey on the neck and the rufous on the rest 

 of the underparts is also much more clearly defined. 



