THE SNOW BUNTING 251 



A few days later I again visited the glen of the Snow 

 Bunting. On this occasion the heat was intense, and the 

 songster was silent. I looked for him with no success, 

 till at last I discovered him in the vicinity of a rapidly 

 dwindling snowfield, where he had sought some relief 

 from the unusually high temperature then prevailing. At 

 times he would walk out on to the snow's surface, feeding 

 on the insects which are always to be found on snowfields 

 on the high hills during the summer months, and would 

 seek to cool himself by running over the snow with his 

 head half buried beneath the surface, and throwing up 

 a furrow as from a diminutive snow-plough. Occasion- 

 ally he would sing snatches from his song, but did not 

 return to the scree, where he was usually to be found, until 

 late in the afternoon. 



Associated as it always is with the grandest and most 

 inspiring surroundings, the song of the Snow Bunting has 

 had for me a peculiar fascination ; and even if heard 

 where there were other and more recognised song-birds 

 to compete, I still think that it would arrest attention. 

 It is powerful, and can be heard at a great distance ; but 

 it is singularly elusive, and sometimes it is a matter of 

 'considerable difficulty to locate the songster, the notes 

 appearing to come now from one part of the hill , now from 

 another. It would almost seem as though the bird had 

 the power of ventriloquy, though the apparent elusive- 

 ness of the song is due more, I think, to the fact that 

 the songster in his excitement moves himself about, so 

 that he faces different points, and also that currents of 

 air are usually moving over the hills in various directions. 

 The notes of the Snow Bird are clear and flute-like, but 

 individual birds vary, and some have more striking songs 

 than others. Commencing in a low key, the notes — five 

 or six in number — rapidly rise until the bird throws out 

 a strong, clear whistle, which at a distance is the only 



