78 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



been observed and shot at Peckbam, and more than 

 once near Harrow. Two specimens have been killed 

 on Hampstead Heath ; one by Mr. Dugmore, junior, 

 in April, 1855 ; the other by Mr. R. Power, in the 

 spring of 1860. I have seen a bird of this species 

 that was shot near Kingsbury Reservoir in the 

 autumn of 1859, and two others in the collection of 

 Mr. Mitford, of Hampstead, which were obtained in 

 that neighbourhood. A nest, with three eggs, of the 

 Cirl Bunting, was taken near Wembley Park in 

 May, 18G1, and one of the eggs with the nest, is now 

 in my collection. 



Ortolan Bunting, Emheriza liortulana. Some 

 3^ears ago there was a birdcatcher in the vicinity of 

 Kilburn to whom Mr. Bond used to i)ay occasional 

 visits, on the chance of obtaining an}^ rarities that 

 had been caught in his nets. One morning he found 

 him with three newly-caught Ortolans. The man 

 having mistaken them for hen Yellowhammers, had 

 wrung their necks, and, in so doing, had completely 

 taken off the heads of tw^o of them. The third is 

 now in Mr. Bond's collection. 



" In 1837 another male Ortolan was caught near 

 London, along with Yellow Buntings, in a bird- 

 catcher's net, and deposited in the aviary at the 

 Zoological Gardens, as recorded by Mr. Blyth."* 



* Yarrell's ' British Birds,' vol. i., p. 529 ; and ' Zoolo- 

 gical Journal,' vol. iii. p. 498. 



