122 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



CORN BUNTING B. Often called, inappropriately, 

 Embenza miliana. Common Bunting, for it is far from 



common in Shropshire. It is most 

 often seen in winter, searching for grain in farm yards 

 or fields, but occurs in summer in the neighbourhood of 

 Broseley, Wellington and Newport, and nests in those 

 districts. It is decidedly rare in the southern half of 

 the county. Rev. J. B. Meredith says that the 

 harsh note of this bird is of a ventriloquial nature, 

 seeming to come from the ground when, perhaps, the 

 bird is perched on a tree. 



YELLOW HAMMER . Provincial name, Writing- 



E. citrinella. master ; in allusion to the scribble-like 



markings on the eggs. It is also called 



locally, but erroneously, the "Goldfinch." A very 



handsome bird, abundant everywhere. Its song is said 



to resemble the words " A little bit of bread and no 



chee-ee-eese." 



CIRL BUNTING B. Very rare, or, more probably, over- 



E. cirlus. looked, from its close resemblance to 



the Yellow-hammer, from which it 



may be distinguished by its black chin and throat. It 



is said to have nested at Ludlow, in June, 1882 In the 



collection at Ticklerton is a fine male, shot at Loton Park, 



and Mr. Beckwith shot one near Shrewsbury, in Jan. 1879. 



REED BUNTING- B. Provincial names, Reed sparrow 



E. schceniclus. and Black - headed Bunting. Fairly 



common by water in summer, and 



about stack-yards in winter. The nest is nearly always 



on or near the ground in a swampy place, and the birds 



will simulate lameness to decoy intruders from it. 



