CIRL BUNTING. 



129 



England. In Hampshire we have many instances 

 recorded of it nesting in all parts of the county. I 

 have myself found the nest, in which the female sat so 

 closely that I was able to examine her minutely with- 

 out disturbing her, and almost succeeded in taking her 

 in my hand. 



In its appearance, it bears a strong resemblance to 

 the Yellow Hammer, and may sometimes therefore be 

 taken for it. The chief points of difference are in the 



CIRL BUNTING. 



head and chin. The head and nape of the Cirl Bunting 

 are olive green and the chin is black (in the Yellow 

 Hammer they are yellow). The back and wings are 

 chestnut brown (in the Yellow Hammer they are 

 reddish brown), the breast and sides are yellow, lower 

 part yellow ; the tail dusky black, the outer feathers 

 patched with white (in the Yellow Hammer the tail 

 feathers are margined with brown and olive), but there 



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