THE CIRL BUNTING IN GREAT BRITAIN. 125 



stead, by Messrs. Farn and Standen. Yet, so far as is known, 

 this and [the Breydon pair] bring up the number of authentic 

 occurrences to five only." 



The Eev. Julian G. Tuck writes me word that the Cirl Bunting 

 does not seem to have occurred in Suffolk. He adds that, as it 

 has occurred in Norfolk and Essex, " doubtless its recognition 

 in Suffolk is only a matter of time." 



Professor Newton kindly informs me that he is not aware 

 of a single instance of the occurrence of the Cirl Bunting in 

 Cambridgeshire (in litt.). 



Essex. — " Though locally resident in most of the southern 

 counties, this bird seems to be very rare in Essex. There are 

 but two or three records of its occurrence in the county." The 

 following evidence is given by Mr. Miller Christy : — Mr. W. D. 

 King saw what he believed to be a Cirl Bunting near Middleton 

 about 1834; he had then a stuffed one in his possession. Mr. C.E. 

 Smith recorded one shot at Latchingdon, 1854. Mr. Arthur 

 Lister, who was familiar with the note, heard one at Saffron 

 Walden " several years ago," and one was sent in the flesh to 

 Mr. Travis from Thaxted about 1885 (' Birds of Essex,' 1890, 

 p. 128). 



Derbyshire. — Mr. A. S.Hutchinson, of Derby, writes: — "Very 

 rare here. I have seen it once or twice during this last few years, 

 in company with the Yellowhaminer .... in the Chellerton 

 district near Derby, but I have not been able to discover the 

 nest" (in litt). 



Nottinghamshire. — "Several specimens .... have been 

 taken near Ollerton. H. Wells shot five at Edwinstowe in 1859 " 

 (Sterland and Whitaker's ' Birds of Nottinghamshire,' p. 22). 

 "I once found near Cotgrave [five miles S.S.E. of Nottingham] 

 a nest containing eggs closely resembling those of the Cirl 

 Bunting; the nest, too, was rather unlike that of the Yellow 

 Bunting. Though I waited some time I could not get a view of 

 the birds" (Mr. F. B. Whitlock, in litt.). 



Leicestershire. — "Rare. Has occurred but once, on the 

 authority of Harley, who, writing between 1840 — 55, said he 

 had met with it in company with the Yellow Bunting, in the lord- 

 ship of Thurmaston" ('Birds of Leicestershire and Rutland,' 

 p. 88). " My friend Mr. Wielett tells me he formerly met with 

 a few pairs breeding at a spot he calls ' Willow Creek,' a rnther 



