EMBERIZIX.t. 



THE CIRL BUNTING. 



Emberiza cirlus, Linnaius. 



The Cirl Bunting is a resident in the south of England, and was 

 added to the British list by Montagu, who found it breeding in Devon- 

 shire ; while subsequent observations have considerably extended 

 our acquaintance with its range. Upon this point a valuable paper by 

 Mr. Aplin (Zool. 1892, pp. 121-128 and pp. 174-181) should be 

 consulted for details. The bird is known to be fairly common — 

 though very local — from Cornwall to Kent, and upon the slopes of 

 the valleys of the Thames and its tributaries as far as Gloucester- 

 shire; also on the chalk-hills of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, 

 especially in the neighbourhood of Tring ; it has also been found 

 breeding in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Salop. 

 In Wales it has decidedly spread of late, and is known to have nested 

 in Brecon, Glamorgan, Cardigan, and Denbighshire, while it has 

 occurred in other parts of the Principality. In East Anglia it is 

 rare, only five examples being recorded for Norfolk ; in North- 

 amptonshire and the Midland counties it is of accidental occurrence, 

 and to Yorkshire it is a rare visitor; while in Durham, Northumber- 

 land and Cumberland it is unknown, though it has strayed to Lan- 

 cashire. In Scotland, at long intervals, three stragglers have been 

 taken : one near Edinburgh, one in x'Vberdeenshire, and one in Rox- 

 burghshire. In Ireland no authenticated example has been obtained. 



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