185 

 THE LAPLAI^D BUNTI:N^G. 



PLECTROPHANES LAPPONICA. 



Crown of the head black, speckled with red ; throat and breast black, a broad 

 white band extending from the eye down the sides of the neck ; nape bright 

 chestnut; back, wings, and tail variegated with brown, white, and black; 

 under parts white, spotted at the sides with dark brown. Length six inches 

 and three-quarters. Eggs pale ochre-yellow, spotted with brown 



This bird, as its name denotes, is an inhabitant of high 

 northern latitudes ; and its occurrence in tliis country is 

 very rare. A few only have been shot, in places remote 

 from each other ; and in the year 1843, a female was cap- 

 tured by a bird-catcher near Milnthorpe, in Westmoreland, 

 and kept for some time in an aviary, where it soon became 

 friendly with its companions and took its daily meal of 

 rape, canary, or hemp seeds, and now and then a sprinkling 

 of oats, with apparent satisfaction. In the arctic regions 

 it inhabits hilly and mountainous districts, and spends 

 most of its time on the ground, where it runs in the 

 manner of Larks, and where also it builds its nest. The 

 male is said to have a pleasing song, combining that of 

 the Skylark and of the Linnet. 



sintow Buii^Tma 



PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS. 



Head, neck, portion of the wings, and lower parts white ; upper parts black, 

 tinged here and there with red. Length six inches and three-quarters. Eggs 

 pale reddish white, speckled and spotted with brown and pale red. 



This, though a northern bird also, does not confine itself 

 so closely to the arctic regions as the preceding species ; 

 but is of common occurrence in many parts of Scotland 

 during autumn and winter, and later in the season in 

 various parts of England. Macgillivray, whose acquaintance 

 with British birds, especially those of Scotland, was very 



