BIRDS OF KANSAS. 429 



Iris dark brown; bill straw color, end (and extending up ridge 

 of upper) black; legs, feet and claws black. 



These birds are very common in the Arctic regions, as far 

 north as explorations have been made. Hardy birds, that move 

 southward as the snow covers their feeding grounds, evidently 

 not from choice; for where the ground is bare and seeds plenty, 

 they are lively and apparently happy with a temperature of 

 30° below zero. In their southern wanderings they assemble 

 together in flocks that often contain hundreds. A very pretty 

 sight, as their black and white markings flash in the air, as they 

 sweep and whirl in a rather compact, wavy form, near the 

 ground, high in air, alighting and rising almost in unison, utter- 

 ing as they go soft, chirruping notes. 



The birds breed in suitable localities in abundance throughout 

 their northern homes. Mr. H. W. Elliott found them breeding 

 on the Seal Islands, in the Behring Sea, and says: 



"The bird builds an elegant and elaborate nest of soft, dry 

 moss and grass, and lines it warmly with a thick bed of feath- 

 ers. It is placed on the ground, beneath some heavy lava shelf 

 or at the foot of an enormous boulder. Five eggs are usually 

 laid, about the last of June. They are an inch long and two- 

 thirds broad, of a grayish or greenish white, spotted sometimes 

 all over, sometimes at or around the larger end only, with vari- 

 ous shades of rich dark brown, purple brown, and paler neutral 

 tints. Sometimes the whole surface is quite closely clouded 

 with diffuse reddish brown markings. Upon the female the en- 

 tire labor of the three weeks' incubation required for the hatch- 

 ing of her brood devolves. During this period the male is 

 assiduous in bringing food; and at frequent intervals sings his 

 simple but sweet song, rising as he begins it high in the air, as 

 the Skylark does, and, at the end of the strain, drops suddenly 

 to the ground again. . . . The food of this species consists 

 of the various seeds and insects peculiar to the rough, higher 

 ground it frequents, being especially fond of the small coleop- 

 terous beetles found on the island." 



And Mr, John Murdock, in his "Eeport of the Expedition 

 to Point Barrow, Alaska," says: 



