Birds. 041 



ing a redwing in unusually fine plumage, when my attention was ar- 

 rested by the not-to-bc-mistaken note of a woodlark flying over my 

 head. I marked it down, and it was soon my own. It proved to be 

 an adult female, despite its powers of song. Seven more woodlarks 

 were seen shortly after in flock, feeding, or searching for food, on the 

 ground. I had seen a single specimen at Luccombe during the pre- 

 ceding autumn, perched on the top of a tree ; and as I examined it 

 with my glass, a fine ring-ouzel settled on another tree hard by : but 

 while I, like the ass between the two bundles of hay, hesitatated which 

 I should select for my shot, both birds took wing. R. Loe assures 

 me a pair breed regularly at Newchurch : and a couple of young birds 

 were offered me this summer from the northern side of the island. 



The Snow-bunting has been twice obtained at Yarmouth, by Mr. 

 Butler. 



The common Bunting is not common enough here to deserve the 

 appellation. I have not met with it very frequently ; but R. Loe in- 

 forms me he has seen large flocks in winter time go to roost on the 

 tops of the furze in Bordwood-forest. The eggs have been brought 

 to me but twice. 



The black-headed Bunting is distributed pretty generally over the 

 marshy districts of the island. I have found it on Pan- common, in 

 S an dh am -flats, and on Apse-heath. 



The yellow Bunting is very common. 



The Cirl Bunting is far from uncommon. I hear its silvery call- 

 note, if I do not see the bird, nearly every walk I take. It is seldom 

 found far inland ; I have never met with it a mile from the sea. My 

 observations of the habits of the cirl bunting do not accord with those 

 of Mr. Blyth, as recorded by Mr. Yarrell in his e History of British 

 Birds.' I have not found it " much more shy than the yellow bunt- 

 ing;" and, remarkable enough, I never but once saw a cirl bunting in 

 a tree : that tree certainly was an " elm ; " but the bird was perched 

 very far below its " lofty summit." Neither have I known it to sing 

 from the " upper branch of a tree," as has Mr. Yarrell : nor can I con- 

 sider its song as "resembling that of the yellow bird." I crave par- 

 don of both Mr. Yarrell and Mr. Blyth, for thus opposing my obser- 

 vations to theirs : but it is curious that the cirl buntings of Bonchurch 

 and its vicinity should differ so widely in their habits from those ob- 

 served by the above-named respected gentlemen. Abundant as is the 

 bird, I have found it difficult to obtain the nest; the birdsnesting boys 

 usually confounding it with that of the yellow bunting. I think it is 

 a late breeder, as a nest containing three newly laid eggs wa-i brought 

 ii X 



