1&6 THE ZOOLOGIST; 



secluded portion of the forest [Charnwood]. The last year or 

 two, however, he has failed to notice them" (Mr. F. B. Whitlock, 

 in litt.). This evidence of the Cirl Bunting breeding in Leicester- 

 shire is hardly conclusive. 



Northamptonshire. — One, male, seen at Lilford, June 29th, 

 1866, by Lord Lilford; the only occurrence of the species in the 

 county of which he was then aware ('Notes on Birds of Northamp- 

 tonshire,' p. 110). One, male, caught by a birdcatcher in Lord 

 Lilford's employ, on a farm of his not far from By thorn, Dec. 18th, 

 1884 (Zool. 1885, p. 182). One, male, seen near Achurch, May 

 28th, 1889 (only the third occurrence known to the recorder). 

 Several seen about the same spot about July 23rd, 1889 (Lord 

 Lilford, Zool. 1889, pp. 427, 429). 



Bedfordshire. — Its occurrence in winter is mentioned in 

 Yarrell, a reference to * The Zoologist' (s. s. p. 2562) being given. 

 Mr. Howard Saunders says it is fairly common, although very 

 local, on the chalk hills of Bedfordshire (Manual Brit. Birds). 



Shropshire. — I take the following particulars from Mr. W. E. 

 Beckwich's ' Notes on Shropshire Birds,' p. 79. Mr. Henry Gray, 

 of Ludlow, wrote to Mr. Beckwith in 1882 : — " On the 23rd June 

 I saw a beautiful male Cirl Bunting near this town, and within 

 the Shropshire boundary. It was sitting on a hedge by the road, 

 and allowed me to approach near enough to see its black throat." 

 One, the first in the county, is mentioned as shot on Jan. 11th, 

 1879, during intense frost. Its occurrence in winter is noted in 

 Yarrell, with a reference to ' The Zoologist,' p. 9780. 



Herefordshire. — " This bird is a native of the county, and 

 not an occasional visitant. ' Anyone,' says Mr. Ley, ' who can 

 distinguish its note ' will come to the conclusion that it is not an 

 uncommon bird in Herefordshire. It takes up its residence in 

 certain localities, where it is always to be seen year after year .... 

 one such spot on the Callow Pitch ; another at Birch ; another at 

 King's Caple; another at the Chase, Ross." A nest with eggs 

 found close to Mitcheldean-road Station in 1880 is mentioned 

 (Dr. Bull's 'Notes on the Birds of Herefordshire,' 1888, p. 39). 

 Mr. J. B. Pilley, of Hereford, writes : — " The Cirl Bunting must 

 be fairly common ; it appears to be known by those who make no 

 special study of birds. I have seen it within a mile of the centre 

 of ike city" {in litt.). 



Worcestershire. — Mr. C. Parkinson writes: — "The Cirl 





