CIRL BUNTING. 61 



MSESSORES. EMEBRIZIDE, 



CONIROSTRES. 



PLATE CII. 



CIRL BUNTING. 



Emberiza cirlus. {Linn.) 



To Montagu we owe the first observations of the habits of 

 this species in England, and, as his account embraces nearly- 

 all the particulars necessary to be mentioned respecting it, we 

 quote his words. He says, " We first discovered this spe- 

 cies near Kingsbridge, in the winter of 1800, not uncommon 

 amongst flocks of yellow-hammers and chaffinches, and pro- 

 cured several specimens of both sexes, killed in different 

 places six or seven miles from that place. They are indi- 

 genous to Devonshire, but seem to be confined to the 

 southern parts of that county, contiguous to the coast, hav- 

 ing found them extending as far as Teignmouth, at both 

 of which places we found their nests ; but have never observed 

 them far inland. This species generally builds in furze, or 

 some low bush ; the nest is composed of dry stalks, roots, 

 and a little moss, and lined with long hair and fibrous roots. 

 The eggs are four or five in number, cinereous-white, with 

 irregular long and short curved dusky lines, terminating fre- 

 quently with a spot at one end ; size rather inferior to those 

 of the yellow hammer, to which it bears great resemblance. 

 These birds pair in April, and begin laying early in May. 

 Insects we found to be the favourite food of the youno-, 

 especially the common grasshopper. When they could peck, 



