266 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



of its breeding range it occurs accidentally with decreas- 

 ing frequency, terminating with an isolated record from 

 Aberdeenshire. From Ireland it has not been recorded. 

 There is, however, some ground for believing that the 

 limits of the range of the species in England and Wales 

 are being extended ; but one must take into account the 

 fact that the earlier history of the bird is rather 

 obscure. The male is quite a brightly coloured bird, 

 and the species is by no means a shy one ; yet for 

 some reason it seems to attract little attention, and it is 

 often entirely overlooked. The female is a much duller 

 bird than her mate, and lacks the black-and-yellow 

 pattern on the head that renders him so unmistakable. 

 Immature birds are still duller. 



In many ways the Cirl-Bunting resembles the Yellow- 

 Hammer, both in appearance and habits. The song 

 of the Cirl is of the simple Bunting type — merely a 

 series of short notes, followed in this case by no special 

 ending. 



The nesting habits closely resemble those of the Yellow- 

 Hammer. Moss is a more typical constituent of the nest, 

 and the eggs tend to have more blotches and fewer 

 ' scribblings.' The four or five eggs are not laid till 

 May as a rule, and a second clutch is deposited in July. 



THE REED-BUNTING 



(Emberiza schoeniclus). 



Plate 90. 



A shghtly different type of Bunting, but still very close 

 to that already described, is represented by this species. In 

 general form and method of flight it betrays the usual 

 characteristics ; but the plumage of the cock is to some 



