52 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



the nest being placed in the fori^ of a tree at varyinf^ 

 elevations from the ground. The eggs are four or five, of a 

 faintgreencolour,streaked and spotted with purple and brown. 



Snow Buistixg. — This winter visitor also varies a good 

 deal in size and colouring. It is stoutly built and denseh^ 

 covered with feathers, which are generally of a huffish 

 brown, lighter on the under than on the upper surface of 

 the body. The female is smaller, but bears a general 

 resemblance to her mate. Like the rest of the buntings, 

 they have a bony tubercle at the palate, and feed on a 

 mixed diet of seed and insects. 



It is quite exceptional for an}- of them to remain in this 

 country during the summci*, and those that are kept in 

 cage or aviary appear to suffer very much from the heat, 

 which generally throws them into a decline. Eggs have, 

 however, been laid occasionally. They are greenish blue 

 white, with dark brown sjiots at the thicker end, and 

 others, distriljuted all over tiie surface, of greyish purple. 

 Length, 6y inches, or 7 inches ; tail, 2'^. 



Lapland Bunting. — This is a smaller bird than the last, 

 and, like it, visits Britain in the winter onl3^ It is rather 

 a handsome creature, at least the male is. His head, neck, 

 face, and breast are jet black ; nape chestnut brown ; back 

 brown, with a dark centre to each feather; rump and 

 outer edges of tail feathers j'ellowish brown. Backwards 

 from the eye is a white streak, which descends, broadening 

 to the under parts, where it merges into faint bluish grey ; 

 the head portions of the band are grizzled by a number of 

 fine white hair-like lines, and the sides are spotted with 

 brown ; the wing coverts are edged whitish grey, with a 

 blue tinge. 



The female is smaller, has no black, and is greyer on 

 the back. Hind nail long ; legs and feet j-ellowish grey. 

 Length of bird, Co inches. 



