CHAPTER XXI. 



The Cirl Bunting. 



Bruant de Haye, Buf. ; Emheriza elacathorax, Bech.; 

 Emheriza cirlus, Lin. 



Description and Character, — The Cirl Bunting, commonly 

 known as the Green Bunting, is rather a scarce bird. It is 

 smaller than the Yellow Bunting, although it is not infre- 

 quently mistaken for it. The long beak, and the black 

 markings about the face and neck of the Cirl Bunting, are dis- 

 tinguishing points between the species. An adult specimen 

 measures 5-^in. in length, of which the tail is 2^in. The beak 

 is rather short than long, and compressed. The upper man- 

 dible is a sort of dingy blue, and the lower one brownish 

 flesh colour. The upper part of the head and neck is olive 

 green, striped with black ; a vivid yellow mark runs below 

 the eye to the neck from the base of the upper mandible. 

 There is likewise a streak of yellow running from the base of 

 the under mandible, which is crossed by a black one, 

 which passes beneath the yellow streak, and runs to the 

 throat. The under part of the neck is black, and below this 

 is a bright yellow spot ; the breast is pale olive green, and 

 at the sides and belly, green, tinged with brown ; the lower 

 part of belly, vent, and under tail coverts is yellow. The 

 back and small wing coverts are pale greenish brown, mixed 

 with black and brilliant yellow ; the rump is dingy green 

 and black mixed. The wings and larger wing coverts are 

 dusky bluish grey ; the smaller pen feathers and wing coverts 

 are margined with brown, and the larger flight feathers with 



