556 



PERCHING BIRDS 



On May 26, 1908, there was shot at Lydd, Kent, a male of the 

 large-billed reed-bunting {Embcriza pynJiuloidcs palustris), the first 

 example of its kind recorded from the British Islands. As implied 

 by its name, the species is distinguishable from the ordinary reed- 

 bunting by its much stouter beak. The typical race of the thick- 

 billed species ranges from the Caspian district to Turkestan ; the 

 Lydd specimen belongs to the south-western race, inhabiting Italy, 

 the south of France, and Spain. 



The great length of the wings, which reach nearly 

 to the tip of the tail-feathers, coupled with the pied 

 plumage, is generally considered a character of 

 sufficient importance to entitle the snow- bunting 

 and its Alaskan relative {Fleet rophancs hypet-boi'cus) to be referred to a 

 separate genus. In the cock of the present species during the spring 



Snow-Bunting" 



(PJectrophanes 



nivalis;. 



SNoW-BlNTINr,. 



months the middle of the back, the inner secondar)- cjuills, and the 

 terminal portions of the primaries (with the exception of narrow white 

 margins), and the middle tail-feathers, together with the beak, are 

 black ; the remainder of the plumage being white. In hens at the 

 same season the head and neck are streaked with greyish black, the 

 crown is tinged with rusty red, and the remainder of the upper surface 

 mottled with blackish brown and chestnut ; the lower-parts being 



