12 BlilTISH BIhDS' NESTS. 



brown, ,L;eii('i';illy distributed over tlie egg. It is tbe 

 siiiaHest of tbe Buntings' eggs found in tbis country, 

 and tbe veins are sborter and tbicker tban tliose of 

 tbe Yellow Bunting. Size about -77 by '57 in. 



Time. — Marcli, April, May, June, and July. 



Be))i(ir/,>!. — Resident, and partially migratory. 

 Notes: song, fc, te, fit, fe, diversified by an occasional 

 discordant ruijtsh ; alarm note, a sliarp twitter. 

 Local and otber names : Reed Sparrow^ Passerine 

 Bunting, Black Bonnet, Cbiiik, Water Sparrow, 

 Black-beaded Bunting, Mountain Sparrow. Sits 

 closely. 



BUNTING, SNOW. 



Description of Fareiit Birds. — Lengtb about seven 

 incbes ; bill sliort, conical, and black. Irides bazel. 

 Head and neck wliite (in some specimens tbe crown 

 and nape are mottled witb black) ; back velvety 

 black ; rump and upper tail-coverts wbite, some of 

 tbe featbers being sligbtl}^ bordered witb brownisb- 

 wbite ; wings black on tbe sboulder or point, wliite 

 tbrougb tbe middle, and black on outer balf and 

 tijis ; tail sligbtly forked, wbite on tbe outside and 

 black in tbe middle ; cbin, tbroat, breast;, belly, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts })ure wbite ; legs, toes, 

 and claws black. 



Tlie female is ratber smaller, bas tbe wbite on 

 tbe bead and neck more mottled witb black, and 

 ber colours generally are not so pure. Very few 

 specimens of tbe bird bave been secured in tins 

 country in its breeding plumage. 



Situation and Locality. — In crevices and cliinks 

 of rock, or amongst loose stones. Tbe bird is said 

 to breed on tbe bigb bills and mountains of tbe 



