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be observed in flocks on the southern coast. Indeed as soon as the young have flown the whole 

 family keep together, and may be seen in the dense hedgerows sitting low down in the thick 

 parts, and displaying much fearlessness. When disturbed they only fly a short distance, and 

 perching on the topmost bough of the hedge regard the intruder ; but if not pressed further, they 

 retreat once more into the thick of the bushes. 



Von Homeyer describes the song as being loud, and consisting of the strophes tutt tiltt tutt 

 tiltt tiltt tutt, uttered in moderate tune, either monotonously or decrescendo. Major Irby says 

 the song is the same as that of E. citrinella, but without the long drawn out note at the end. 



Mr. T. Robson, of Ortakeuy, has kindly sent us the accompanying note : — 



" This species is numerous in Turkey in Asia and Europe, and is a constant resident. It is 

 widely spread over the hills and valleys, but seems most partial to those narrow valleys where the 

 sides are covered with brushwood and grasses, and especially those which are partially cultivated 

 and interspersed with a few low trees. It is a shy bird, and on alighting retires into the interior 

 of bushes and trees, where it is not easily seen. It builds on bushes near the ground, mostly on 

 hill-sides. Quantities of them are taken during the autumn migration by means of limed twigs 

 and sold for food. They congregate in the winter in large flocks, and feed much in the summer 

 on caterpillars that abound on the oak-trees." Major Irby writes to us: — "The Cirl Bunting 

 appears to me to frequent near Gibraltar more woody districts during the breeding-season than 

 the Yellow Bunting, as it is there common in the cork-wood in open spaces." 



A specimen in the collection of Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., shot by Mr. Gatcombe near 

 Plymouth, bears the following label : — " The gizzard contained six or seven different plants (two 

 of them Mr. Cordeaux believes to be grasses), and the usual accompaniment of small sharp 

 angular stones." 



Hewitson thus describes the nest. " It generally builds in firs or some low bush. The nest 

 is composed of dry stalks, roots, and a little moss, lined with long hairs and fibrous roots. The 

 eggs are four or five in number." 



We have now before us eggs of this Bunting from Dresser's collection, taken on the Isle of 

 Wight, and near Madrid. In colour they are pale greyish-white with a faint blue tinge, marked 

 all over with the peculiar scratches so characteristic of Buntings' eggs ; these are pale purplish- 

 brown and dark blackish-brown. Compared with Yellow Ammers' eggs, they are lighter-coloured 

 (these latter often have the ground-colour with a faint russet tinge), and the scratchings are 

 bolder and darker. Dr. E. Bey, who gives the average size of fifty-three specimens as 21 '5 millims. 

 by 16 - 4 millims., states that the number of eggs is five, seldom six. 



The descriptions and figures of the adult birds are from specimens in our own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



JE Mus. Sharpe and Dresser. 



a, b. St. Leonards, Sussex (H. E. B.). c, d. Pagham, Susses, July 11th, 1870 (R. B. S.). e. Plymouth 

 (J. Gatcombe). /. Hampstead (Davy), g. Middlesex (Gardner), h. Piedmont, November 1869 (Sal- 

 vadori). i. Gibraltar, March 6th, 1870 (L. H. Irby). 



