shower to the ground to the music of their own sweet 

 tinkling notes. 



The adult males, with their white wings, are con- 

 spicuous when seen in a flock with dark companions, 

 and are easily selected by the gunner who is anxious 

 to obtain a good specimen for a collection of stuffed 

 specimens. The plumage of these birds varies con- 

 siderably, but young and old cocks show white on the 

 shoulders. Some people are sometimes undecided as 

 to the sex, when they have secured a good hen. But 

 the above marking soon decides the question of sex. 



As an exhibition bird, the Snow-Bunting stands 

 but little chance in present-day competition, unless 

 a class is provided for migrant seed-eaters, or Bunt- 

 ings ; although I have been ver}^ fortunate myself at 

 the Palace and other shows with a steady bird, pure 

 in colour. But it must be a bird caught the same 

 autumn as shown, for they do not improve in colour. 

 I have moulted them and seen others that have been 

 moulted, but they lose the pureness in colour and 

 become dingy and dirty looking. Their legs soon 

 become coarse and look as if they had been caged 

 for years. 



These birds are very easy to keep in confinement, 

 and I have found them thrive on canary seed only and 

 become so fat that they get ugly in shape and appear 

 out of proportion. That is, if you happen to meet 

 with a bird that soon gets steady: for if restless the 

 chances are against their putting on much flesh. 



Every bird caught does not make a show specimen, 

 however good he may be. Some never become tame 

 enough to be shown. On the other hand, others, 

 which may bestead}^ enough, lack the size and mark- 

 ings required for the show bird. 



I consider the beautiful yellow beak in the winter 

 plumage adds considerably to the beauty of the bird, 



