106 FAMILIAR WILL BIRDS. 



every portion, but most pleptifully in the southern counties, 

 and more especially in SusseXj^^ Hampsliire, Wiltshire, and 

 Devonshire. Mr. Knox remarks that, although commonly 

 seen in the summer months in the neighbourhood of 

 Brighton, Worthing, Bognor, and Chichester, it is seldom 

 met with far on the northern sides of the South Downs. 



Corn-lands, meadows, and open fields surrounded by 

 hedgerows are the favourite resorts of the Cirl Bunting, 

 and in counties where there is a sea coast the bird is 

 generally found to keep at no great distance from it. 

 They are seldom found in large numbers ; usually small 

 parties of about from six to ten are seen. In the winter 

 they keep together in grass fields, or on waste land ; they 

 seldom associate much with other birds, and when dis- 

 turbed rise one after the other and escape separately. 



The Cirl Bunting is somewhat shy in disposition, and 

 much addicted to perching on the tops of trees, exhibit- 

 ing a partiality for elms, especially during the breeding 

 season. 



The food consists of the seeds of grass and other plants, 

 caterpillars, flies, and various small insects. As a vocalist, 

 it certainly cannot claim a very high rank, the song, if it 

 may be so termed, consisting of a few shrill, almost harsh 

 notes, generally uttered whilst the bird is perched on the sum- 

 mit of a tree, and sometimes during flight. The female is less 

 accomplished in this particular than her mate. The call 

 somewhat resembles the words ^^ twit, twit." The flight 

 is undulatory, and very similar to that of the Yellow- 

 hammer. 



About the beginning of May nesting operations 

 usually commence, and the locality usually selected is 

 generally a low bush, furze or bramble, or amongst the 



