24 
British Birds. 
THE BLACK-HEADED 
BUNTING. 
{ Emberiza melanocephala.) 
rustica). Some three or four occurrences of this Bunting have been recorded, examples 
having been obtained near Brighton, near London, and in Yorkshire. The species 
is more rufous in colour than either of the preceding birds, and distinguished from 
both of them by the chestnut streaks on the flanks, while the lesser wing-coverts are 
chestnut, and there is a band of chestnut across the fore-neck. In the female the 
lesser wing-coverts are brown, and there is no rufous on the head and throat. The 
Rustic Bunting is a Siberian bird, and breeds as far westward as Archangel and Fin- 
land, up to almost 64° or 65° N. Lat. It is said to possess a rich and melodious song, 
and its alarm-note to resemble that of the Redwing. Its habits are like those of the 
Reed Bunting, and its home is in the marshy pine-woods of Northern Europe. Properly 
identified nests and eggs of this species are desiderata in most of our Museums. 
This richly-coloured bird is an Oriental species, whose 
migrations appear to be due east and west, instead of north 
and south, as is the case with most migratory birds. Although 
it is more gaudily coloured than is the case with most 
Buntings, which, as a rule, are remarkable for a sober plumage, the observations of 
naturalists tend to shew that it is a true Bunting in its habits. The breeding 
home of the species extends from the Riviera to Greece and Turkey, and thence to 
Central Asia, while it winters in North-Western India in enormous numbers, leaving 
its European breeding-quarters very eariy in the year, and disappearing at the end 
of July or the beginning of August. 
Three specimens of the Black-headed Bunting have been recorded in the British 
Islands, the species having occurred in Sussex, Nottinghamshire, and near Dunferm- 
line, in Scotland ; so that it may 
be reckoned as an occasional 
visitor to our shores. The nest 
is a somewhat bulky structure, 
and is placed on the ground or 
in some low bush, or amongst 
the vines and other trailing 
plants. Near Constantinople, 
Seebohm found it principally 
amongst the rows of peas 
and beans. The eggs are 
four or five in number, 
and are of a different type 
from those of most European 
Buntings, being of a pale 
greenish blue colour, with 
-The Yellow Bunting. 2 — The Cirl Bunting. 
3 — The Ortolan Bunting. 
brown spots and grey under- 
lying markings. 
