Avifauna of Franz Josef Land. 255 



1. '^Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.). 



Payer, op. cit. ii. p. 91 ; Feilden, t. c. p. 209 ; Neale, 

 P. Z. S. 1882, pp. 653, 654; Nansen, op. cit. i. p. 308. 



Mr. Bruce's collection contains adults, young, and a nest 

 of the Snow-Bunting, which is quite common as a breeding- 

 bird around Cape Flora. 



The Snow-Bunting has come under the notice of all the 

 explorers of Franz Josef Land, where it is widely distributed, 

 for Dr. Nansen observed the bird at Torup Island, in latitude 

 81° 30', in August 1895. 



[The Snow-Bunting remained plentifully with us in the 

 autumn of 1896 until the 14th of October, and the last was 

 seen on the 30th. Thus this bird was the last species by 

 eight days to remain with us. The sun disappeared about 

 the 27th. The first seen in the spring of 1897 was on the 

 16th of April, and it was the last of the breeding-birds to 

 arrive. About half-a-dozen nests were taken at Cape Flora, 

 and no doubt many more could have been procured if desired. 

 The nests were placed among stones ; but one was on an 

 exposed ledge of a rock, about five feet from the ground 

 and just large enough to hold it ; while another was in 

 a deep crevice, and a third under an overhanging piece of 

 turf. We saw the first young birds on the 26th of July, 

 1896, and the 10th of July, 1897. 



The presence of this bird on Bruce Island is rather 

 striking (it probably breeds there), since the island is almost 

 ice-covered, one or two narrow strips near its edge being the 

 only ground free from ice. — W. S. B.] 



2. *Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.). 



Several fully adult males of the Lapland Bunting were 

 obtained by Mr. Jackson at Cape Flora on the 28th of May, 

 1896. These specimens were exhibited at the meeting of 

 the British Ornithologists' Club on the 17th of November, 

 1897 (Bull. Brit. Orn. Club, no. xlviii. p. xiv). 



This species was an unlooked-for addition to the fauna of 

 Franz Josef Land ; for the archipelago lies not only far to 

 the north of its previously ascertained distribution, but its 

 physical conditions are of an order not likely to prove 



