SNOWFLAKE 223 



Snowflake ; Snow Bunting : Plectrophenax nivalis. 



Mainly white ; upper parts, wings, and taU marked with black ; 

 in winter washed with rusty. Length, about 7 inches. 



Geographic Distribution. — " Northern part of the northern 

 hemisphere, breeding- in the arctic regions ; in North America, 

 south in winter into the northern United States, irregularly to 

 Georgia, southern Illinois, Kansas, and Oregon." 



My only memories of these white northern vis- 

 itors are connected with snowshoe walks over 

 the fields in blinding snow- 

 storms, when flocks of the 

 white birds would appear 

 and alight on the ground 

 for a moment, then with a 

 wild cheep go whirling on 

 to disappear in the cloud of 

 wind-blown snowflakes. One 



" must have been bred in the north," Mr. Cham- 

 berlain says, " to enjoy a snowstorm as the Bunt- 

 ings do, to find with them exhilaration in the 

 biting air, and delight in the swish and swirl of 

 the drifting flakes. These birds seem to be at 

 their happiest in a storm, and whenever one comes 

 their way they join in its whirl and scurry just 

 for the fun of its fierce revelry, birds and flakes 

 mingling in the same wild dance." 



