278 THE CIRL BUNTING 



badger, the toad, and the Yellow Hammer are all in 

 league with the Prince of Darkness." 



The Cirl Bunting, often called the -French Yellow 

 Hammer, which is distinguished from the commoner bird 

 by the dark throat gorget, is more numerous at times 

 than it is supposed to be. In fact it is becoming fairly 

 common as a resident species. 



The Yellow Hammer is the size of a Sparrow but longer 

 and more elegant. Throat, underparts, and crown of 

 the full-grown male, golden-yellow ; mantle rust-red 

 merging into green. The bill is peculiar, the lower half 

 is compressed, and the upper half is so formed that it is 

 adapted for shelling seeds. Its well built nest is placed 

 low down among the bushes. It lays five eggs which 

 have dark markings on a light ground. 



