PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 161 



GIRL-BUNTING- [Ember iza cirlus, Linnaeus. French, bruant zizi; 

 German, Zaunammer ; Italian, zigolo nero], 



1. Description. Distinguished from the yellow-hammer, which it resembles, 

 by the black throat and lores, the black spot behind the eye, and the olive-green 

 rump. (PL 20.) The crown and nape are olive-green, with black striations. 

 The throat below the gorget is bright yellow, and this is succeeded by a sage-green 

 pectoral band, bounded posteriorly by a narrow band of mahogany-red, which 

 extends backwards on each side on to fore-part of flanks, which, tailwards, become 

 greenish grey relieved by dusky streaks. The interscapulars and scapulars are 

 mahogany-red, marked with inconspicuous black spots. After the autumn moult 

 the black feathers of the head and throat are tipped with olive-green, obscuring 

 the black, the upper parts duller and greener. Length 6J in. [165 mm.]. The 

 female differs from the male in having the throat pale yellow striated with black, 

 and only a tinge of red in sides of breast, the ground colour of the back and crown 

 olive-brown striated with black, scapulars mahogany-red. She may be distinguished 

 from the female yellow-hammer by the olive-green rump, red scapulars with dark 

 shaft-streaks. After the autumn moult the upper surface of the body has a browner 

 hue, owing to broad brownish fringes to the feathers. The young, before the first 

 moult, are browner than the adults, especially on the throat and chest ; the sides 

 of the face and ear-coverts are uniform brown, [w. p. p.] 



2. Distribution. On the Continent it is almost confined to the basin of the 

 Mediterranean and Black Seas ; from Spain and North-west Africa east to the 

 Caucasus and Asia Minor. In the British Isles it is chiefly found as a resident in the 

 counties on the south coast of England, and locally in various parts of the south 

 midlands, the Thames valley, Somerset, and Gloucester : also locally in Wales, not 

 only in the south but also in the north, and is not uncommon in Flint and 

 Denbigh. Records of breeding in the north of England require confirmation. 

 The species is practically unknown in Scotland and Ireland. As will be seen from 

 the above, the presence of this bird in Great Britain is remarkable in view of the 

 fact that it is only found in the south of Continental Europe as a rule, although 

 a few pairs breed in France and the Rhine valley. [F. c. B. J.] 



3. Migration. There is no evidence of any migratory movements from 

 or to the British Isles. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting place : near or on the ground in gorse, hedge- 

 bottoms, or bank sides. The nest is built of bents, roots, and sometimes moss, 



