70 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



May 24th and 31st. On the other hand, I have 

 found M Cirl's " eggs in the first half of May, 

 though not commonly ; and I have seen a good 

 percentage of fresh eggs for genuine first broods, 

 I think up to June 15th. Second nests should 

 be sought in July, according to the date of the 

 first laying: for example, if a " Cirl " begins to 

 sit about May 27th, she will, if all goes well, have 

 reared her first family and have a second nest and 

 eergs by approximately the first week in July ; 

 while fresh eggs in August and even though 

 rarely in early September are not without pre- 

 cedent. This, however, is not very strange, seeing 

 that most of our Buntings are proverbially late in 

 carrying on their reproduction. 



Sometimes it requires more than one stroke with 

 a stick to move a " Cirl " off her eggs, so closely 

 does she brood in her often admirably-hidden home. 

 Then she usually flutters out rapidly with tail 

 well spread, at first, if she can, flying downwards 

 in a more or less deeply inverted arc (according to 

 the situation of the nest), for twenty yards or more, 

 before rising abruptly and whipping over the fence, 

 then seeking seclusion in the nearest tree. She 

 may now keep aloof for as much as half an 

 hour, so long, in fact, as you remain near the 

 nest, or, on the other hand, she may return to the 

 charge (especially if a clump of trees is close to 

 her belongings) almost at once, and all unnoticed 

 save by the keenest observer. She often brings the 



