104 



Measure- Average of 52 eggs (11 by Rey, 3 by Meves and 38 by the writer) 



™^"*'- 20.53X15.05 mm., Max. 22.2x15.3 and 21.5x16 mm., Min. 18X15.3 

 and 20X14 mm. A dwarf egg in Dresser's collection measures 15.2 X 11.5 

 mm. Average weight of 11 eggs 120 mg. (Rey). 



49. Cirl Bunting, Emberiza cirlus L. 



Plate 13, fig. 12—15 (Greece). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XXXII, fig. 5, a — c. Hewitson, 

 I. Ed. I, pi. XI, fig. 1; II. Ed. I, pi. XL, fig. 1; III. Ed. I, pi. XLVIII, 

 fig. 2. Baedeker, Tab. 3, fig. 7. Seebohm, Brit. Birds, pi. 13; id. Col. Fig., 

 pi. 58. Frohawk, Br. Birds, II, pi. V, fig. 196—197. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Strnad evrcivy. France: Bruant zizi. 

 Germany: Zaimammer, Zirlammer. Holland: Cirlgors. Hungary: Soveny 

 sarmdny. Italy: Zigolo nero. Portugal: Sia, Sioclio. Russia: Ogorodnaya 

 ovsyanka. Spain: Linacero. 



Emberiza cirlus L. Newton, ed. Yarrell, II, p. 50. Dresser, Birds 

 of Europe, IV, p. 177; id. Man. Pal. Birds, p. 354. Saunders, Man, p. 211. 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 175. 



Breeding Range: Southern England, Wales, the countries bordering 

 on the Mediterranean and Black Seas from Spain to the Caucasus. [Also 

 Asia Minor and N. W. Africa.] 

 British It is rather remarkable that this bird, which on the Continent has 



its head quarters in the Mediterranean region, should be found breeding 

 in so many English and Welsh counties. Full details as to its distribution 

 will be found in the Zoologist 1892, pp. 121 and 174. Briefly the Cirl 

 Bunting breeds commonly but locally along the counties bordering our 

 southern coasts, in the Isle of Wight, and also in smaller numbers in Somerset, 

 Wilts, Gloucester, the Thames valley, Hertford, Bedford, Northampton, 

 Warwick, Worcester, Hereford and Salop. It is also said to have occasionally 

 nested in Stafford, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, but in view of its absence 

 from the north of England and the eastern counties, further evidence is 

 desirable. In Wales a few pairs are now known to breed locally in 

 Glamorgan, Cardigan, Brecon, Montgomery, Carnarvon and Flint, and it 

 is not uncommon locally in Denbigh. 

 Con- In the Iberian peninsula it is plentiful in the north of Portugal and 



Europe tolerably common in southern Spain. It is found also throughout France, 

 Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, etc., but is local in Switzerland, and in 

 Germany only occurs in small numbers in the south west (valleys of the 

 Rhine, Mosel and Saar). In Austro-Hungary it is only recorded from the 

 coast districts, but is widely distributed and common in the Balkan 

 peninsula, breeding principally in the hilly districts. In Russia it is found 



