~0 BLACK-HEADED BUNTING. 



lias the rust-red plumage of the head in abundance, 

 but this is by degrees rubbed of." 



Brehm, in Badeker's work upon European eggs, 

 says, "Very little is known about the nidification of 

 this bird. Its eggs, of which it lays five, are very 

 similar to those of the other Buntings. One variety is 

 like that of the Snow Bunting. They are of a blue 

 greenish ground, delicately marked with dark and 

 reddish grey spots, mostly at the larger end. In form 

 they are a longish oval, and the shell very soft and 

 brittle." 



This very beautifully-marked bird has the breeding 

 plumage of the male as follows: — Head, nape, and 

 auditory regions deep black. The whole of the back, 

 scapularies, and upper wing coverts rich dark russet, 

 tinged with yellow; chin and all the inferior parts 

 bright citron yellow. Wings and tail brown; the 

 primaries lightly edged with grey. Beak bluish grey; 

 feet yellowish brown. 



The female, according to Temminck, has all the 

 upper parts of a russet grey; the throat white; inferior 

 parts reddish white; under tail coverts yellow; greater 

 wing coverts and the first primaries bordered with 

 reddish grey, having their centres black. " 



My figures of this bird and its egg are taken from 

 specimens kindly sent me by Mr. Tristram. They are 

 from Greece. The egg is from a nest of four taken 

 by W. H. Simpson, Esq., at Missolonghi, January 3, 

 1859. 



The bird has also been figured by Temminck in his 

 Atlas; Roux, Ornith. Pro v.; Guldenstedt, Nov. Com.; 

 Naumann, Naturg. Neue Ausg., pi. 101, f. 2; Gould, 

 Bircb of Europe, pi. 172. Eour figures of the egg 

 are given in Badeker's illustrations of European eggs. 



