174 



British Cage Birds. 



yellowish green. The tail is black, but on the two exterior 

 feathers are large white spots ; all the tail feathers are 

 bordered with yellowish green. The legs and feet are dark 

 flesh colour. The young birds differ a little from the 

 parents. The upper part of the body is green, spotted 

 with brown and black ; the under part is yellowish green, 

 striped with black. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Cirl Bunting inhabits France, 

 Italy, Austria, Spain, and Portugal, and migrates to other 

 countries. With us it is partly migratory and partly in- 

 digenous, inhabiting the more southerly counties of England, 

 particularly Devon, where it breeds, and is commonly 

 known as the Green Bunting. It is a pretty bird, but 

 somewhat scarce, and it is seldom that more than three 

 or four are seen together at one time. They associate with 

 Goldfinches, Chaffinches, and Yellow Buntings, and in the 

 autumn and winter frequent stubbles and grass fields. They 

 inhabit groves, thickets, and plantations chiefly. 



They are easily tamed, and soon become accustomed to 

 the cage or aviary. The males are more handsome than 

 the females, and much more attractive in appearance. They 

 sing a little ; the song is soft and plaintive. They build 

 their nests mostly in bushes by the roadside, in secluded 

 country lanes, or in fields, and among the underwood in plan- 

 tations or coppices. The nest is composed of dried grass 

 and root fibres, and is lined with hair and fur. The hen 

 lays from four to five bluish white eggs, marked with rust- 

 coloured spots, and incubates fourteen days. The nests are 

 seldom found, and only in warm, genial places, well-sheltered 

 by trees. 



Methods op Capture.— Cirl Buntings are incautious iDirds, 

 and, consequently, easy to entrap. They may be taken in 

 the same manner as Goldfinches, either with limed twigs, 

 the decoy bush, or day net. A Yellow Bunting may be 

 used as a decoy. 



Food and Treatment. — In a wild state, Cirl Bunt- 

 ings feed on caterpillars, moths, flies, maggots, &c., and bur- 

 dock, plantain, thistle, and other wild seeds ; also wheat, 

 oats, and barley. In confinement, they eat all kinds of 

 seeds ; canary, hemp, maw, and lin seed they appear to relish 

 especially. They are also very partial to young fresh lettuce. 



