coast. 



ALONG THE LANES AND HEDGEROWS. 59 



Among the lanes and hedgerows of the South 

 of England, especially in the more westerly 

 counties, the CIRL BUNTING (E. cirlus) may be Fromvaiie ys 

 met with. It is closely allied to the Yellow Avon, and 

 Bunting, but wants the bright yellow head, the south to 

 throat is dark blackish brown, below which is a 

 yellow spot, below which again is an olive band 

 across the breast which shades into chestnut, 

 the remainder of the underparts yellow. The 

 Cirl Bunting is more of a tree bird than its com- 

 moner ally, and especially affects hedges and lanes 

 in which this larger type of vegetation is common. 

 It is also of more skulking habits, yet is just as 

 persistent a singer. The song resembles that of 

 the Yellow Bunting, but wants the long-drawn 

 notes which almost invariably accompany the 

 close of that bird's refrain. He sings industriously 

 enough between the months of April and June, 

 less frequently in July, when his music is hushed 

 for the year in the autumnal moult. He feeds on 

 insects, grain, and seeds, according to season, 

 especially on grasshoppers. As the Cirl Bunting 

 prefers the higher vegetation for a perching-place, 

 in like manner it chooses a site among the bushes 

 at some distance from the ground for its nest. A 

 gorse-bush or a thicket of brambles and briars 

 is a favourite place. Sometimes, however, it 

 may be found upon the ground on a bank, or 

 amongst the herbage at the foot of a tree. It is 

 made of similar materials to those employed by, 

 the Yellow Bunting coarse grass, moss, leaves, 

 roots, and hair. The four or five eggs are some- 

 what similar to those of that bird, but are rounder 

 in form, the ground colour is bluish or greenish 

 white, and the markings are darker and bolder. 



