EMBER IZIN.'E. 



203 



THE CIRL BUNTING. 



Emf.eriza ci'rlus, Linnaeus. 



The Cirl Bunting is a resident southern sj^ecies, which was added 

 to the British list by Montagu, who found it breeding in Devonshire. 

 Subsequent observations have considerably extended our acquaint- 

 ance with its range, and the bird is now known to be fairly common, 

 although very local, from Cornwall to Kent, and along the valleys 

 of the Thames and its tributaries up to Gloucestershire ; also on 

 the chalk-hills of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, especially in the 

 neighbourhood of Tring. Mr. Booth obtained two by chance in 

 Norfolk in the autumn of 1875 '> '" Northamptonshire and the Mid- 

 land counties it is of accidental occurrence, and to Yorkshire it is 

 a rare visitor; while in Durham, Northumberland and Cumberland 

 it is unknown, though it has strayed to Lancashire. It has been 

 found breeding in Warwicksliire, \\^orcestershire, Herefordshire and 

 Salop ; but it was, I believe, unknown in Wales until Mr. E. C. 

 Phillips obtained a male on 15th March 18SS, near Brecon. In 

 Scotland, at long intervals, three stragglers have been taken ; one 

 near Edinburgh, one in Aberdeenshire, and one in Roxburghshire. 

 Mr, A. G. More classes it among the species erroneously mcluded 

 in the Irish list. 



The Cirl Bunting has only twice been obtained (in spring) on 



