CIEL-BUNTING — CHAITINCH. 83 



THE Cmii-BUNTIIirG. 



Emheriza cirlus. 

 The Cirl-Bunting has occurred in North Oxfordshhe on 

 several occasions both in summer and winter. It probably 

 breeds in small numbers^ but actual proof o£ this is, however, 

 wanting. Mr. C. M. Prior has taken two nests, which he 

 believed to belong" to this species, in the neig-hbourhood of 

 Bloxham, where he shot a female from a flock of Yellow 

 Hammers in December, 1878 [i?i lit.). Mr. L. M. Bartlett 

 informs me that at the end of May, 1885, he saw two pairs of 

 Cirl-Buntings near South Ne wing-ton ; he is acquainted with 

 the appearance of the bird from having preserved specimens 

 for me, and particularly noticed the black throats of the males. 

 In January, 1871, Mr. John Gardner shot seven or eight 

 from a flock of ten which were feeding on some hayseeds in a 

 field adjoining Banbury cemetery ; two of these, a male and 

 female, I have seen in his collection at Warwick. The Messrs, 

 Matthews record that a few specimens had been brought from 

 the neighbourhood of Oxford to Mr. Forrest for preservation 

 [Zoologist, p. 2597). In South Oxon, on the western slope of 

 the Chilterns, the Cirl-Bunting is more numerous. A male 

 was observed by my brothers at the foot of the hills near 

 Chinnor on the I4tli July, 1879. Mr. H. Evelyn Rawson 

 considers it fairly common in the sovithern corner of the 

 county [in lit.), where it undoubtedly breeds. 



1^ 



THE CHAFFINCH. 



FriiigiUa coelehs. 

 The Chaffinch is a resident, and one of our commonest birds. 

 About the middle of February, if the weather is mild, the 

 joyous, ringing song of the Chaffinch may be heard from many 

 a roadside tree, and is one of the earliest signs of the approach 

 of spring. Gathering together in large flocks in winter, and 

 remaining in company to range the fields for food well on into 

 spring, no bird is more regular in its attendance on the fields 



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