ciietzschmaer’s buxtixg. 
41 
served in the North African journey of that distinguished 
naturalist^ is found in the south of Europe, and is a 
regular summer visitant into Greece, appearing there, 
according to Count Miihle, early in April, and leaving 
in August. Its principal home is in Syria, Nubia, 
and Egypt. Temminck suggests that it would probably 
be found more common in the south of Europ)e, but 
that its similarity to E. da causes it to be frequently 
mistaken for that bird. Its capture near Vienna, in 
1827, is also recorded by this naturalist, and M. 
Eoux states that it is found in Provence, in company 
with E. da. It has also been killed in the neigh- 
bourhood of Marseilles by M. Busonnier, as recorded 
by Degland. 
Count Miihle says that it is the most common 
Bunting in Greece. ‘‘After its arrival in April it is 
found in flocks among the wild and rocky hills of the 
country, in company with S. stapazina, Sarnia noctua, 
and Tardus cyanus. It is seldom found in fields or 
among bushes. It hops among the rocks with great 
agility, and its song is much more refined than that of 
the Ortolan. This bird (the Ortolan) first appears 
plentifully when E. ccesia has been gone some time, 
and is never found in the same localities, preferring 
bushy fields.” 
“E. ccesia builds its nest, which is like that of the 
Yellowhammer, but smaller, behind blocks of stone in 
a sage plant, off the ground. It lays four to six 
eggs, which are grey blue, sprinkled with liver-coloured 
sj)ots. It feeds its young with ground beetles and the 
caterpillars which it finds among the flowers of the 
sage.” 
Of this bird in Palestine Mr. Tristram remarks, (Ibis, 
vol. i, p. 34): — “One of the most common birds of the 
