searching the grass plots of gardens in Teignmouth. Should 

 the winter be a severe one, many die and still more migrate to 

 the Continent, for, as I have already noted, this species cannot 

 endure cold or damp. From its migratory habit is presumably 

 derived the Devonshire name for the bird — the French Yellow- 

 hammer. 



In March this Bunting may be seen in pairs and in in- 

 creased numbers, due presumably to the return of the migrants 

 from the Continent. In April it seeks its nesting haunts in some 

 warm secluded valley near the coast. 



In forming my collection of Photos of the nests of British 

 Birds I have always endeavoured, in the case of each species, to 

 obtain a picture of a typical locality where I have actually found 

 a nest, and to me these are interesting in themselves, besides 

 adding to the value of such a collection from an artistic point of 

 view. The little study which accompanies these notes represents 

 the place where I first found a Cirl Bunting's nest, and where a 

 pair bred for a succession of years — Trusham Bridge, about three 

 miles from Chudleigh, on the Upper Teign. This is a charming 

 spot, very warm and sheltered and surrounded by steep hills. 

 On the Bridge itself the Grey Wagtail, Blue Tit and Spotted 

 Flycatcher nest yearly. A Dipper nests little more than one 

 hundred yards above the Bridge. The Kingfisher flashes up and 

 down the stream the whole day long. The Nightingale sings in 

 a small copse behind the railway station (for we have a good 

 many Nightingales in Devon, despite the popular tradition to 

 the contrary) and in the deep gorse on the bank on the left of 

 the picture, in company with many Linnets, Willow Wrens and 

 Chiffchaffs, the Cirl Buntings used to build. (The gorse has 

 now been cut down, but the Cirl Buntings have not gone far- 

 away.) 



One June day I was having lunch with a friend above this 

 gorse-covered bank when I heard the unmistakable song of this 

 Bunting, and soon detected the singer concealed in a bramble- 

 bush. We kept our eye on him and saw him flit away across the 

 railway line, returning presently with an insect. After eyeing us 

 carefully for some minutes he suddenly disappeared. A second 

 time we saw him go through this manoeuvre and, when he again 



