206 SYSTEMATIC CATALOGUE. 



seldom venturing many miles into the interior. 

 Common during the breeding-season in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Chichester, Bognor, Worthing, and 

 Brighton, but not met with on the northern side 

 of the Downs of West Sussex. I have found 

 its nest in tall quickset hedges. It has been 

 discovered in the strawberry gardens at Preston 

 near Brighton, and in Stanmer Park. The nidi- 

 fication of the cirl bunting is somewhat later than 

 that of the yellow hammer, seldom taking place 

 until May. In winter they are gregarious, and 

 according to my own observation they do not 

 congregate with other birds. In February, 1838, 

 when residing at Aldwick, near Bognor, I noticed 

 a small flock close to a newly cut hayrick, during 

 the prevalence of a cold easterly wind. I shot 

 two, a male and a female, and found their sto- 

 machs filled with hay-seeds. The next day the 

 weather was mild and the remainder departed. 

 Then succeeded a piercing north-easter, and they 

 reappeared in increased numbers at the rick, 

 but the scanty supply of their favourite food was 

 soon exhausted or blown away ; so I caused the 

 loft to be swept, and scattered a few handfuls 

 every morning at the foot of the stack. This had 

 the desired effect: the birds remained with me 

 until the return of mild weather about a week 

 afterwards; and although a few chaffinches and 



