hedges near the coast are often covered with them, though previously none were to be seen. It builds and 

 breeds in the over-grown hills, and goes away early in August. During the breeding-time, the male sits on 

 the tops of the bushes, and continually utters its agreeable, simple, Yellowhammer-like song. It is not at all 

 shy, and is frequently killed by those in quest of it with a stick alone. Singular to say, the female is seldom 

 seen ; I have met with a very small number of that sex." 



Lord Lilford informs us in ' The Ibis ' for 1860, p. 139, that the Black-headed Bunting " arrives in Corfu 

 and Epirus in great numbers in April, remains to breed, and disappears in September, has an agreeable 

 song, and is known in Corfu by the name of ' Ortolano.' " 



Very considerable difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes — the female being destitute of the rich 

 black colouring of the head, and of the chestnut hue of the back. 



The male in full breeding-plumage has the head, cheeks, and ear-coverts rich deep black, all the upper 

 surface and a patch on each side of the chest deep rust-red, the whole of the under surface and the sides 

 of the neck bright yellow ; wings reddish brown, each feather conspicuously margined with grey, except the 

 primaries, on which it only occurs as a fine line on the extreme edge of the feathers ; tail similar, but paler, 

 and the edging not so decided ; bill bluish grey; feet yellowish brown. 



The general plumage of the female above is brown, each feather margined with pale brown ; the under 

 surface washed with yellow, which is deepest on the under tail-coverts. 



The Plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size, on the wild hop {Humulm Lupulus, Linn.). 



Pp 





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