1840.] of the Peninsula of India. 29 



tail. Length 6 inches ; wing 3 T Vths; tail 2£; tarsus rather more than 

 rVhs ; bill at front ,Vhs. Irides brown ; bill brown above, yellow- 

 ish belowj legs flesh coloured yellow. 



Genus EMBERIZA, Auct.— Bunting. 



179.— .0. melanocephala, kuct.—Gundum, H.— Black-headed Bun- 

 ting. 



I do not recollect having seen the Gundum in the Carnatic. It 

 makes its appearance on the table land, about the end of November, or 

 beginning of December ; associates in numerous flocks, and is very 

 destructive to grain-fields. Few of the birds are found in perfect plum- 

 age. Length 7| to 8 inches ; wing 3 T Vthsj tail 3 ; tarsus Aths ; bill 

 to front t o ths. 



180.— E.ortolana, Auct.— Sykes' Cat.- Ortolan of Europe. 

 I have not hitherto met with the Ortolan of Europe. 



181.— E. cia?—Putthur Chirta, U.—Bush or hedge Bunting. 



• 



Though I have great doubts whether this bird is the E. cla of au- 

 thors, yet as it approaches nearly the description of that bird, and 

 moreover is only a winter visitant to the peninsula, I think it may turn 

 out to be identical with it. 



This bunting is found only in the more northern parts of the table 

 land, during the cold weather, frequenting hedges and trees in the 

 neighbourhood of cultivation, also bushy wilds. It feeds on various 

 grains and seeds. Found sometimes single or in pairs, at times in nu- 

 merous flocks. I shall add a brief description. 



Plumage above cinereous, tinged with reddish on the back and rump ; 

 beneath lighter cinereous, strongly tinged with reddish fawn colour,' 

 on throat and breast, passing into reddish white, or pale fawn colour 

 on the belly and vent ; chin whitish. Wings and tail dark brown, 

 broadly edged with reddish fawn ; outer feathers of the tail white on 

 their inner webs. Irides brown ; bill reddish ; feet yellow. Length 

 6* inches ; wing 3* ; tail 2£ ; tarsus 7£ tenth, ; bill to front hardly^ ths. 



182.— E. cristata, Vigors.- Sykes' Cat.— CVwfrd black Bunting. 



