( 275 ) 



NOTES ON THE HABITS AND DISTRIBUTION OF 

 THE CIRL BUNTING IN NORTH WALES. 



S. G. CUMMINGS. 



Although the Cirl Bunting- (Emberiza cirlusj is more or 

 less familiar to most bird lovers, the following- remarks 

 may perhaps be of some interest, and induce ornitholog-ists 

 to make further search for this bird and to obtain supple- 

 mentary information as to its status in North Wales. 



The Cirl Bunting- is always very local, even in those 

 counties where it is most numerous ; in one valley several 

 pairs may be observed, whilst in the next valley they are 

 entirely absent. The reason for this has not yet been 

 explained, but it is probably a question of food suj)j)ly. 



Of a much more retiring- disposition than its near ally 

 the Yellow Hammer, the Cirl Bunting- is undoubtedly 

 often overlooked, unless the observer is well acquainted 

 with the song and call notes. 



My first introduction to this bird, as a boy, was in South 

 Devon, where it was fairly common, since when I have 

 from time to time renewed its acquaintance in North 

 Wales, and always with fresh interest. I have also met 

 with it in mid- Wales, near the coast, south of Aberystwyth, 

 on the few occasions that I have visited that part. 



In North Wales it was first identified by Mr. C. G. 

 Beale in 1881, in the Ceiriog- Valley, Denbighshire, as 

 recorded by Mr. O. V. Aplin in his j)aper on the distribu- 

 tion of this species in Great Britain (Zoologist, 1892, 

 p. 179). It still frequents this valley between Chirk and 

 Glyn-Ceiriog- where, however, I have found it more 

 sparsely distributed of late years. 



