AMERICAN FINCHES. 39 



SNOW BUNTING. 



This is a bird who breeds in vast numbers in 

 the solitary regions of the North ; and on the 

 approach of winter migrates southward, on both 

 Continents. They are found in the North of 

 Europe, and in the Northern and Middle States, 

 and some seasons as far south as Maryland, in 

 the winter. They generally come with our first 

 snow, and may be seen then in the vicinity of 

 Boston, and attract attention from their curious 

 appearance, being mottled black, white, and 

 brown. They have some very sweet and musi- 

 cal notes. 



FOOD. They will live in a cage, but must be 

 kept cool in warm weather. They may be fed 

 on hemp and Canary, with a portion of rape- 

 seed. They soon become tame, and reconciled to 

 confinement. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SEXES. The.male is 

 larger than the female, and there is no other way 

 to distinguish them, the colors are so various, 

 and they are so much alike, that is, generally 

 speaking, in the colors; but there are hardly two 

 of them which are exactly alike in the markings. 



