464 GRANIVOROUS BIRDS. 



They leave the colder arctic deserts, in the autumn, and 

 are found around Hudson's Bay in winter, not mak- 

 ing their appearance there before November. Near Sev- 

 ern river they haunt the cedar trees, upon whose berries 

 they now principally feed. They live in large flocks, and 

 are so gregarious that when separated from their own 

 species, or in small parties, they usually, in Europe, as- 

 sociate with the common Larks, or, in America, they 

 join the roving bands of Snow-Birds. They feed princi- 

 pally on seeds, and also on grass, leaves, buds, and in- 

 sects. They breed on small hillocks in open marshy 

 fields, and the nest is loosely constructed of moss and 

 grass, and lined with a few feathers. The eggs are 5 or 

 6, yellowish rusty, somewhat clouded with brown. The 

 Longspur, like the Lark, sings only as it rises in the air, 

 in which, suspended aloft, it utters a few agreeable and 

 melodious notes. 



The male of this species is about 7 inches long ; and 12 in alar ex- 

 tent. Bill yellow, dark at the point. Iris hazel, and the feet dusky. 

 The fore part of the neck, throat, and breast are black, the hind-head 

 bright reddish-rusty ; a white line runs from the base of the bill to 

 the eye, behind which it widens and descends on the sides of the neck 

 somewhat round the breast. Belly and vent white. Back and scap- 

 ulars brownish-black, the feathers skirted with rusty ; smaller wing- 

 coverts blackish, margined with white, the greater coverts edged 

 with rufous and tipped with white, forming 2 white bands across the 

 wings. Tail 2^ inches, rather forked, and blackish, the outer feath- 

 er on each side with a white spot. Hind nail nearly an inch long. — 

 Female a little smaller, with the top of the head, shoulders, back, and 

 wing-coverts brownish black, edged with rusty ; sides of the head 

 blackish and rusty. Line over the eye tinged with rusty ; throat 

 white, encircled with brown j the rest, below, white. — The dress 

 of the young and autumnal birds vary more or less. 



