Birds. 5511 



hortulana) on the 6th and 12th of April, for this latter species having 

 arrived about this time, together with the chirping of the common 

 bunting, my ear was confused as to sounds. However, my first cap- 

 ture of Emberiza hortulana was on the 20th of April; for, on coming 

 into camp from a ride, I observed a pair of birds which I took for 

 yellowhammers, but something hinted to me that I ought to make 

 sure ; so, fetching my gun, I shot one, which, on examination, turned 

 out not to be my old friend of the cold season, but a new one, the 

 ortolan bunting, which remained common in pairs to the middle of 

 May, and, I suppose, the whole summer. A male specimen, shot on 

 the 2nd of May, had a portion of its ear-coverts, on one side, a green- 

 olive. Now, I had observed the bird just mentioned for some days in 

 pairs, previous to my shooting the specimen, and, considering they 

 were of the former species, I had made the following note in my 

 journal: — "Sunday, April 20th. It is seldom that I get a sight of 

 these birds now, and what 1 do are in pairs : I suppose that the mass 

 have gone north, but a few remain to breed." I insert this to show 

 how one is liable to be led astray by the gradual substitution of one 

 species for another, until by chance suspicion is roused ; and there- 

 fore I advise any one who would make full and accurate notes (for 

 truth is the greatest point in Natural History) not to hesitate about 

 the killing of a few birds or the expenditure of a little additional 

 ammunition, for the sake of being certain, for many birds are not un- 

 palatable, and I have found buntings and others very acceptable to 

 make a change from ration-beef and salt-pork. I also find, on the 

 26th of April, a reference to the note of this bird : — " I think they 

 must just have arrived, for the note is distinct, and I should have 

 noticed so many of them before." 



The meadow bunting (Emberiza cia), which is said not to go 

 north of the South of Europe, Dr. William Carte obtained in 

 February. 



The common bunting (Emberiza miliaria), known by its peculiar 

 prolonged chirp, is resident in the Crimea during the year, but 

 I consider that its numbers are greatly increased in the spring : 

 I observed them in small flocks during autumn; a few congre- 

 gated with other buntings and larks in winter, and scattered about 

 usually among the brushwood on the hills in numbers during spring. 

 I note two out of many which I measured, which appear unusually 

 large, " Shot on the 7th of January, length 7| inches, closed wing 

 4 inches; and on the 12th of April, length 7| inches, closed wing 

 4 inches." 



