THE RUSTIC BUNTING. 

 Emberiza ruslica, Pallas. 

 Plate i8. 



About a dozen examples of this rare Bunting have occurred at different times 

 in the British Islands, the first near Brighton in October 1867, and the latest on 

 Fair Isle, Shetlands, in May 1913. 



The breeding haunts of the Rustic Bunting reach from Finland across 

 northern Russia to eastern Siberia, whilst in autumn it makes its way southwards 

 to spend the winter in China, Japan, and Turkestan. 



It frequents wet forest ground, and according to Mr. Dresser (Manual 

 of PalcBarctic Birds, p. 363) it makes "a rather loose nest of wiry grass-bents and 

 depositing in June 5 to 6 eggs greenish grey in colour with olivaceous brown 

 blotches and without any scratchy lines." 



Von Middendorff describes its song as rich and melodious. 



In the female the black portions of the head and ear-coverts are dark brown, 

 broken with buff ; and the plumage is altogether duller than in the male. 



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