38 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



Food. Insects and their larvae ; in winter, grain and 

 seeds. 



Nest. April onwards. Two or three broods. 



Site. Near or on the ground, in side of hedge amongst 

 herbage, at base of low bush, among brambles ; seldom 

 in furze-bushes. 



Materials. Straw, dead grass, stalks, roots, and moss, 

 lined with fibres and horsehair. Cut fairly deep. 



Eggs. Four to five. Pale purplish white, streaked, 

 veined, and scribbled (hence Writing Lark) with purplish 

 red and greyish lavender ; variable. 



CIRL BUNTING (Emberiza cirlus). 



Local, being most abundant in the South. Rarer 

 towards the North. Unknown in Ireland. 



Haunts. Cultivated districts where there are plenty 

 of trees bordering the fields. 



Observation. Distinguish from last by the black 

 throat and yellow band round eyes. 



Plumage. Crown olive, streaked with black. Throat, 

 neck, and band through eyes black ; stripe above and 

 below eye, and collar bright lemon-yellow. Breast 

 greyish olive ; flanks chestnut. Belly dull yellow. 

 Otherwise very like the Yellow Hammer. Length 6| in. 

 Female, duller and more streaked below. Young, duller 

 than female. 



Language. Song, similar to last, but without the thin 

 terminal note. Call-note, " Zizi." 



Habits. Rather like the last, but more shy, keeping 

 to the tops of trees, from which it sings. Rather skulk- 

 ing, gregarious in winter. 



Food. Grasshoppers, beetles, insects, and spiders ; 

 in winter, various seeds and grain. 



Nest. May onwards. Two broods. 



Site. Like last. 



Materials. Like last. 



