CIRL BUNTING. 
341 
near Plymouth, and near Kingsbridge. Like its 
congeners it keeps much to one spot, ranging only 
to short distances from its favorite hedge. It seems 
particularly partial to such fields and hedges as 
have trees planted in them, and it passes repeatedly 
from the shrubs and hazels in the hedgerows to 
these, and back again, and so perpetually makes its 
circuits throughout the day. In winter it forms 
small associations, and should the weather be severe 
it is induced to quit its summer haunt, and roam 
over the fields in company with the yellow species, 
but as soon as the severity of the cold abates it 
again returns to its former quarters, so that there 
are certain spots at which an ornithologist may be 
sure of finding a Cirl Bunting all through the year, 
save indeed during severe weather. Though some¬ 
what shy in its movements, this bird like many 
others has been known to build in a much exposed 
situation, and to appear to a great extent uncon¬ 
cerned at the presence of man during that period 
alone, thus in this village a pair built yearly in 
holes of the wall of a stable, or in the sides of a 
hayrick, and though on one occasion one of them 
was shot, the other presently mated and continued 
on the spot. In Cornwall it is found nearly as 
commonly as with us about the vicinity of Penryn 
and Falmouth, and has there been shot during 
winter in furzebrakes. It commences its note very 
early in the year, as soon indeed as the slightest 
indication of spring intervenes between the severi¬ 
ties of winter, again however ceasing on each 
renewed fall of snow, great cold, heavy rain, or 
other severe wintry symptoms, but on the whole it 
seems a bird of considerable hilarity, as well as a 
species of robust and hardy nature. In fact its 
habits in respect of winter song are similar to those 
of the Missel Thrush, Blackbird, &c. In the year 
1838 it began its song or reiterated note in the end 
