BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 21 



Degland, on "the Bariums 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: — "Eusjriza melano- 

 cephala, 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. melanocepliala. 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. When they first arrive the male 



