OTES 



CIRL BUNTING IN ARGYLLSHIRE. 



On June 6th, 1920, at St. Catherines, Upper Loch Fyne, 

 Argyll, I had the good fortune to see a pair of Cirl Buntings 

 {Emheriza cirhis). They both rose from a bramble-covered 

 bank between the road and shore, and alighted on the other 

 side of the road under some large trees, chestnut and lime, 

 and I had ample time and opportunity to examine them 

 minutely with binoculars at about fifteen yards' distance. 



The greenish-coloured head and black marking on the 

 throat rendered the male bird very conspicuous, compared 

 with the more sombre-coloured female. The male bird also 

 hopped about in a lively manner, while the female was 

 inclined to squat on the ground. 



The following day I was much disappointed to find a motor 

 picnic party spending what seemed to me a long time at the 

 spot, and for the next three days I looked for the birds in vain. 

 However, on the loth I again saw the male a. little bit farther 

 along, hopping: about on the road, but this time it seemed 

 much more shy and soon fiew up amongst the high branches 

 of a chestnut tree. I did not see them again, although I 

 kept a daily look-out for them until the end of the month. 



I may remark that I had previously seen Cirl Buntings 

 in Dorsetshire. It may seem very improbable to find the 

 Cirl Bunting so far to the north, but it was quite impossible 

 to mistake the bird at such close range. W. Stewart. 



WOOD-LARK BREEDING IN SOMERSET. 

 I HAVE great pleasure in reporting that I have this year found 

 the Wood-Lark [Lullula a. arhorea) breeding in Somersetshire, 

 and this is, I believe, the first time that it has been recorded 

 as doing so. I found my first pair on May 13th (1920). As I 

 came suddenly round a bend the bird rose from a loose stone 

 wall and at once began soaring, spirally, and singing. It 

 climbed to a great height in a wide circle overhead. 



After singing for a considerable time it descended into the 

 grass, where two young ones with well-defined eye-stripes were 

 soon noticeable ; they followed the old one, running up 

 quickly now and then to receive food as the old bird turned ; 

 when she (?) appeared to stab at them once or twice with her 

 beak as she fed them. Neither youngster attempted to fly. 



At another breeding-place the singing-bird descended to a 



