196 OUR FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



is a slight difference in the habits of the two species 

 manifest. The Cirl Bunting becomes more of a tree 

 bird, rather more shy and skulking, and is certainly 

 quieter, less demonstrative, and consequently more 

 apt to be overlooked. It has also a habit of flying 

 out of that side of a hedge or tree furthest away 

 from the observer. As long as it thinks itself 

 unseen it will remain chirping monotonously at 

 regular intervals, but it seldom lingers long after it 

 becomes aware that it is being watched. In spring 

 and summer when flushed it usually flies from one 

 tree to another, and is careful to hide itself away 

 amongst the foliage. Showy bird as it is, it does 

 not readily reveal itself, and often all our prying 

 amongst the leaves is in vain, to discover the hidden 

 and monotonous chirper. 



The Cirl Bunting regains its song a little later in 

 the spring than the Yellow Bunting. We have 

 heard it in March, but it does not become at all 

 general before April. This song is continued with 

 varying frequency right through the summer, and 

 finally ceases in the moulting season in July or 

 August. On rare occasions we have heard this 

 Bunting sing in autumn. Up to a certain point 

 the song closely resembles that of the Yellow 

 Bunting, but it wants the two concluding notes 

 which are such a feature. It is in fact a Yellow 

 Bunting's song when that bird has been disturbed 

 before it could complete it. We do not remark the 



