SUPPLEMENT TO BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY 



141 



Although their bills are not speciaHzed hke those of the Crossbill or Grosbeak 

 the birds are very skillful at extracting the seeds from the cones of pitch pines. 

 They hang from the cones, insert their bills between the hard scales, pull out the 

 seed, eat ofi' the kernel and drop the wing. They are also fond of gleaning the 

 delicate branches of larch trees for insect pests. 



Their song is a high-pitched rapid trill or rattle interspersed with a variety of 

 squeaky notes. It may often be heard here in April and May. For a plain bird 

 they have a rather surprising courtship display. I refer to the bright yellow color 

 at the base and sides of the tail and on the wing feathers. This yellow becomes 

 very prominent when the wings and tail are spread at the proper angle. 



223 [534] Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis (Linn.). 



Snow Bunting; Snowflake. 



Abundant winter visitor; most common in November, December, and Janu- 

 ary, less common in February and March. October 12 to April 19. 



The full nuptial song of the breeding-grounds which is often given in the air 

 and as the bird descends rapidly to the ground, I have not heard in Essex County. 

 During March one may often hear a rather feeble warbling song with introduced 

 sibilant notes and trills, as if the bird were practicing for the full song. 



224 [536] Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus (Linn.). 



Lapland Longspur. 



Winter visitor, common in the autumn and early winter, very rare in late 

 winter and spring. October 5 to May i. 



Late winter and spring records of this bird are so rare they are worth record- 

 ing. My brother, Mr. W. S. Townsend, found a male in full plumage on Ipswich 

 Beach on April 19, 1905. In 1907, Mr. H. W. Wright saw four Longspurs at 

 Little Nahant on February 26 and 28, and March 4 and 8. On March 10, 1 visited 

 the place and found one Longspur there. In 1909, on January 31, at Ipswich, 

 I found about a hundred Longspurs with an equal number of Snow Buntings in 

 the Ipswich dunes. I saw one on February 7 of that year and five on April 18. 

 The last-named birds were seen at Great Neck. 



