io8 THE CIRL BUNTING 



which Is a third above. The effect is in some measure plaintive, and 

 gives the idea that the bird is preferring a petition. In Devon- 

 shire it goes by the names of ' Little-bread-and-no-cheese ', and 

 ' Gladdy '. Of the latter name I do not know the origin ; that of 

 the former is clear enough ; for if the words ' A little bit of bread 

 and no cheese ' be chanted rapidly in one note, descending at the 

 word ' cheese, chce-ese ', the performance, both in matter and style, 

 will bear a close resemblance to the bird's song. It has been noticed 

 that the song of the Yellow Hammer may always be heard about 

 three o'clock in the afternoon. 



In winter, Yellow Hammers assemble in large flocks, often mixed 

 with other hard-billed birds, and resort to ploughed fields, or 

 rick-yards. Macgillivray describes with singular accuracy their 

 movements on these occasions. " When the ground is covered 

 with snow, they congregate about houses, and frequent corn- 

 yards along with other birds, retiring to the trees and hedges in the 

 vicinity when alarmed. Their flight is undulated, light, strong, 

 and graceful, and they alight abruptly, jerking out their tail- 

 feathers. It is indeed surprising to see with what velocity they 

 descend at once from a considerable height, to settle on the twigs 

 of a tree which had attracted their notice as they were flying over 

 it, and with what dexterity all the individuals of a flock perch in 

 their selected places." 



The nest and eggs of the Yellow Hammer resemble those of the 

 Common Bunting, but are smaller. The nest is most frequently 

 placed close to the ground, or actually on the ground, among grass 

 on the skirt of a meadow. Yarrell suggested that the name 

 ' Yellow Hammer ' should be written ' Yellow Ammer ' — the 

 word Ammer being a well-known German term for Bunting. 



Collectors of eggs should carefully avoid cleaning the eggs of 

 the Buntings, as the dark colouring matter with which they are 

 blotched is easily rubbed off with a damp cloth. 



THE CIRL BUNTING 



EMBERIZA CIRLUS 



rown dark olive, streaked with black ; gorget and band above and below the 

 eye bright yellow ; throat, neck, and band across the eye, black ; breast 

 olive-grey, bounded towards the sides by chestnut ; abdomen dull yellow ; 

 back brownish red, with dusky spots. Female — the distinct patches of 

 black and yellow wanting ; the dusky spots on the back larger. Eggs 

 greyish, marked with ash-coloured and black blotches and lines. 



With the exception of its black chin and throat, this bird closely 

 resembles the Yellow Hammer. Its habits, too, are much the same, 



