188 LAND-BIRDS AND GAME-BIRDS 



especially when %ing, for they then seem almost like an ani- 

 mated storm, driven before a gust}'- wind. 



(d). Their principal notes are a clear! 3^ piped whistle, and a 

 peculiar chirr, which they often utter when on wing. Their 

 song, rarel}' to be heard in Massachusetts, is short and simple,v 

 but quite sweet. 



(B) LAPpoNicus. Lapland Longsjmr. Lapland Bunting. 



(Rare in Massachusetts, where it is present in the winter- 

 season only ; "common on the Ipswich Sand-hills.") 



(a). 6-6^ inches long. ^ , in the breeding-season, with the 

 crown, forehead, sides of the head, throat, and upper breast, 

 continuously black. Superciliary line, whitish, continuing down 

 the side of the chestnut-red patch on the back of the neck. 

 Interscapulars^ dark brown or blackish, with lighter edges. 

 Lower breast and bell}', whitish ; the former more or less, 

 streaked. Wings and tail dusky ; the former marked with 

 bay (and white), the latter with conspicuous white patches. 

 (? , in winter, with the black interrupted and the chestnut-red 

 less pure. 9 , with the throat much like the breast, crown 

 like the back, and the chestnut almost wanting. 



(6). In eggs from Anderson River, " where distinctly visible, 

 the ground-color appears to be of yellowish-gra}^, * * *. The 

 blotches are of various shades of brown, with shadings of olive, 

 purple, or red, and at times almost black." "They measure 

 •80 X -60 of an inch." 



(c). The "Longspurs," as their name indicates, have re- 

 markably long hind-claws, such as also belong to the Snow 

 Buntings, to whom they are as closely allied by habits and 

 notes as otherwise. They are still more northern in their range 

 than those birds, and pass the summer in Arctic countries 

 only. Brehm says, from his own observations at this season 

 in the extreme North of Europe, that they may be found 

 among the birch-woods there, where they often perch upon the 

 trees, feed much upon the gnats which swarm in the toondras, 

 and sing only when on the wing, often hovering like the Lark 

 when doing so, whereas the Snow Buntings usually perch on 



