hedges near the coast are ofteti covered with them, though previously none were to be seen. It builds and
breeds in the over-growB|hills, and goes away early in August. During the breeding-time, the male sits on
the tops of the bushes, and continually utters its agreeable, simple, Yellowhammer-like song. It is uot at all
shy, and is frequently killed by those in quest of it with a stick alone. Siugular to say, the female is seldom
seen ; I have met with a very small number of that sex.”
Lord Lilford informs us in ‘The Ib is ’ for 1860, p. 139, that the Black-headed Bunting “ arrives in Corfu
and Epirus in great numbers in^April, remains to breed, and disappears in September, has an agreeable
song, and is known in Corfu by the name of ‘ Ortolano.’
Very considerable difference occurs in the colouring of the sexes—the female being destitute o f the rich
black colouring of the head, and of the chestnut hue of the back.
The male in full breeding-plumage has the head, cheeks, and ear-coverts rich deep black, all the upper
surface and a patch on each side of the chest deep rust-red, the whole of the under surface and the sides
of the neck bright yellow; wings reddish brown, each feather conspicuously margined with grey, except the
primaries, on which it only occurs as a fine line on the extreme edge of the feathers; tail similar, but paler,
and the edging not so decided ; bill bluish g rey ; feet yellowish brown.
The general plumage of the female above is brown, each feather margined with pale brown ; the under
surface washed with yellow, which is deepest on the under tail-coverts.
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size, on the wild hop (JHumulus Lupulus, Linn.).