1 62 THE MIGRATION OF BIRDS. 



but the winters are very few during which we see 

 the Pine Grosbeak. The Snow Bunting thoroughly 

 deserves its name ; it is perhaps the very first 

 Passerine bird to penetrate into the higher Arctic 

 regions with the return of spring, long before the 

 snow has melted^ or winter relinquished its iron 

 grasp. As soon as the northern peasants begin to 

 throw manure on their snow-clad fields^ the Snow 

 Buntings, previously hovering on the very edge 

 of the snow-wreath, make their appearance ; and 

 although later snow-storms may banish them, again 

 and again they return until winter is finally con- 

 quered^ and the south wind brings sudden summer 

 on its wings. As a rule, the endemic forest birds 

 of the Arctic regions travel the shortest distances 

 south, and vxry few of these birds have ever visited 

 our islands. They are nomadic enough in their 

 northern forests, but are rarely, if ever, driven from 

 them to any great distance. The three species of 

 northern Grouse, the Capercailzie (Tetrao uroo^allus)^ 

 the Black Grouse [Tetrao tetnx)^ and the Hazel 

 Grouse {Tetrao boiiasia), inhabiting forest districts, 

 wander about more or less during winter, but rarely 

 if ever undertake any migration even of a nomadic 

 character. The Willow Grouse {Lagopus albus), 

 however, is a nomadic migrant in very cold areas, 

 in summer frequenting the moors, like its congener 

 the Red Grouse (Lagopus scoticus), of the British 

 Islands ; but in winter, when the tundras are several 

 feet deep in snow, a migration is undertaken to the 

 nearest forests, where the birds subsist on buds. 



