BLACK-HEADED BUXTING. 27 
Deglaiid, on Bariurus aculeatus, and not far from 
the ground. It lays from four to five whitish eggs, 
which are covered with very small spots and dots of 
a more or less ashy grey; some specimens are of a 
greenish white, with spots of a rust brown at the 
largest end.” 
In a long and interesting letter, full of valuable 
information, which I have received from Dr. Leith 
Adams, from Malta, I extract the following remarks 
about the bird I am now noticing: — “Euspiza melano- 
cepliala, Bonaparte, is almost the prototype of E. 
simillima of Blythe; the latter authority fixes on the 
following as distinctions. The closed wing of simillima 
is three inches and a quarter, instead of four inches, 
and altogether it is not so large a bird. The species 
frequents southern India, and until Mr. Blythe made 
the above diagnosis, Indian authors considered it iden- 
tical with E. melanocephala. I have seen three speci- 
mens, and could not make out any decided distinctions. 
Might not climate account for the smaller size?” 
Count Miihle says “It comes (into Greece) at the 
end of April, and I have for many years observed its 
arrival. On a clear bright morning in spring the 
hedges near the coast are often covered with them, 
though previously none were to be seen. It builds 
and breeds on the overgrown hills, and goes away 
early in August. During the breeding time the male 
sits on the tops of the bushes, and lets its agreeable 
simple. Yellow-hammer-like song be continually heard. 
It is very stupid, and not at all shy; indeed it is 
frequently killed, by those in quest of it, with a 
stick alone. It is at the same time strange that the 
female is so seldom seen. I have only met with a 
very small number. M^hen they first arrive the male 
