354 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



specimen of the Cirl Bunting (Emberiza cirlus). The bird was on 

 some gorse by the side of the road, and allowed me to remain about 

 ten yards away, sufficiently long to point out to my wife — who was 

 with me at the time- — the difference between it and citrinella. I may 

 add that the Cirl Bunting is a bird with which I am very well ac- 

 quainted, and in this case was first attracted by its note. This appears 

 to be the first record for Ireland. — H. E. Howard (Clareland, near Stour- 

 port, Worcestershire). 



Cirl Bunting in Carnarvonshire and Cardiganshire.— In reference 

 to the occurrence of the Cirl Bunting [Emberiza cirlus) in Carnarvon- 

 shire, recorded by Mr. Aplin (Zool. 1899, p. 322), it may interest him 

 and others to know that this bird is by no means uncommon in that 

 part of the county near the Little Orme. During a short stay in the 

 neighbourhood in July, I heard and saw five males within a radius of 

 one mile. One afternoon two birds were singing together in a church- 

 yard, within a few yards of each other ; one was perched on the east 

 gable of the church, the other in a yew tree. Close at hand I also 

 found a nest, which by July 16th contained three eggs. This nest, 

 chiefly composed of hay, grass, &c, was built in a hedge bordering a 

 lane, amongst blackthorn, brambles, &c, and, as is usually the case — 

 so far as my experience goes — placed on the field side of the hedge, 

 and invisible from the lane. Another nest, out of which the young had 

 just flown, was built in an isolated bit of gorse in a hedgerow, also 

 bordering a lane. Curiously enough, immediately under this nest, but 

 in the bank and next the lane, there was a Yellowhammer's nest with 

 four eggs, showing that the two species do agree together at times. 

 With regard to the song of the Cirl Bunting, it may not be generally 

 known that the same bird will sometimes alter its usual loud trill to a 

 much sharper and higher key. Its call is somewhat remarkable and 

 unmistakable, being a very thin sibilant note repeated at intervals. 

 There is another alarm-note, uttered occasionally by the male, which 

 is identical with that of the Hedge-Sparrow ; this note I heard when 

 handling the young, with the old bird within a few yards of me. Again 

 quoting Mr. Aplin : in his interesting and valuable paper on the dis- 

 tribution of this species, he mentions Aberystwith as the only locality 

 in Cardiganshire where it has been observed. I may here say that on 

 July 18th, 1901, I heard several singing at and near New Quay in 

 Cardiganshire. — S. G. Cummings (King's Buildings, Chester). 



Notes on the Cuckoo in Aberdeen. — The season here has been very 

 bad for Ciicitlux canorus. It was first heard on May 4th, but only a 



