90 BIRDS OF CHESHIRE. 
YELLOW BUNTING. 
EMBERIZA CITRINELLA, Linnzeus. 
Yellow-hammer, Goldfinch, Goldie, Golden Amber, 
Seribbling Lark. 
The Yellow Bunting or Yellow Ammer, the com- 
monest of the Buntings, is one of the most familiar of 
our Cheshire birds, being plentiful everywhere in the 
lowlands, and on the Hills up to the edge of the moors. 
In winter it frequents stubbles and farmyards in com- 
pany with Chaffinches and Sparrows, being as much in 
evidence at that season as in summer. 
In Cheshire this species is commonly called the 
‘Goldfinch, whereas the Goldfinch (Carduelis elegans, 
Stephens) is as generally known as the ‘Red Linnet.’ 
Unsubstantiated reports of the occurrence of the rarer 
bird should, therefore, always be received with caution. 
CIRL BUNTING. 
EMBERIZA CIRLUS, Linnzeus. 
[There is no satisfactory evidence of the occurrence 
of the Cirl Bunting in Cheshire. Mr. Graham Renshaw 
saw a bird in the Mersey meadows near Sale on April 
12th, 1899, which he believed to be a Cirl Bunting, and 
recorded the fact at the time.1 On June 16th he caught 
sight of another bird at Dunham Massey which he 
thought was similar to the one he had seen at Sale, but 
he was not absolutely satisfied as to the identity of 
either,? and, failing further information, we think it in- 
advisable to include this species in the Cheshire list. | 
1 Zoologist, ser. 1V. vol. iii. p. 222. 2 Ibid. p. 418. 
