114 Land Birds of New England 



fact that he sings with peculiar sweetness and energy 

 as night comes on. 



The nest is placed upon the ground, usually in 

 a pasture or other open rield. Eggs are laid in the 

 latter part of May, and there are two sets. 



The song resembles somewhat that of the song 

 sparrow, though it is less lively. It is sometimes 

 heard at mid-day, but more commonly in the early 

 morning or toward dusk. Song continues in the 

 region of New York to late July or early August, 

 and once discontinued is not resumed in the same 

 year. 



60. SNOWFLAKE ; WHITE SNOWBIRD 

 SNOW BUNTING. 



( 7 Vt'c/f -opJiena.v n ii >alis . ) 



Male: back and much of the wings and tail black; head, rump, 

 and under parts white ; both white and black more or less over- 

 laid with warm brown ; wings and tail largely white. Beak 

 conical, light brown ; feet black. Bird distinctly larger than a 

 sparrow. Sexes often similar, save that the female is some- 

 what smaller, but female oftener much browner than the male, 

 sometimes, indeed, of a streaky brown above arid a brownish 

 white below. 



NOTK. This description applies to the winter plumage, the only 

 one likely to be seen by an observer in the United States. 



THKSK birds are very irregular in their appearance. 

 They may be looked for in any open ground where 

 seed-bearing weeds are to be found, but are espe- 



