EMBERIZA CANICEPS, Goud.

Grey-capped Bunting.

Emberiza caniceps, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc. 1853.

 

In the collection transmitted to Andrew Murray, Esq., of Aberdeen, by his brother Dr. John Murray, are
several examples of this conspicuously marked species of Emberiza, which, I believe, were collected in the
neighbourhood of Agra; my own collection also contains examples of both sexes sent direct from Afghan-
istan. I do not, however strange it may appear, find specimens in any of our public museums, neither
have I succeeded in discovering that it has been named or described, or any account recorded of its habits,
in either of the numerous journals or other publications on Indian birds ; Lord Arthur Hay, who has also seen
specimens from Afghanistan, is not aware that it has received a specific appellation. I am therefore induced
to regard it as new, and to figure it as such under the name of Emberiza caniceps ; it is a somewhat smaller
and more delicately formed bird than: the L. cétrinedla or the E. cirlus, to which section of the Buntings I
consider it to belong. The sexes offer the usual difference in colour, the female being destitute of the rich
markings which form so conspicuous a feature in the opposite sex.

I at first thought it likely that this bird might be the Emberiza albida of Mr. Blyth, but in his remarks on
that species he does not allude to any black mark on the throat, and the admeasurements given appear to
have reference to a much larger bird than the one here represented.

The male has the forehead and crown greyish white ; lores and a broad line passing over the eye to the
nape and the throat black ; cheeks and ear-coverts white ; back, scapularies, rump and upper tail-coverts
deep reddish chestnut ; wing-coverts dark brown, edged with buffy brown; wings brown, narrowly edged
with greyish white; central tail-feathers blackish brown, the two outer ones on each side blackish brown
at the base, and white for the remainder of their length, with the exception of the outer web, which is
brown ; under surface creamy white, crossed on the chest by a broad band of lively chestnut-red ; bill and
feet fleshy brown.

The female has the whole upper surface, wings and tail pale olive-brown, with a streak of dark brown
down the centre of each feather ; a slight wash of rufous on the upper tail-coverts ; throat and flanks pale
buffy brown, streaked with dark brown.

The figures represent the two sexes of the size of life.

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