136 The Sm 'W-BrxTiNG 



Lord Lilford observes : — " In the few instances in which, * * * *^ ^ve met 

 with this bird in the highlands of Inverness-shire, we found it exceedingly tame, 

 running about within a few yards of us, and feeding on the seeds of varions 

 grasses which grew by the burn-sides ; in one instance the bird was so confiding 

 that I nearly- caught it with my cap ; but this was no doubt caused by the fact 

 that a Merlin was huntiug over the moss at the moment when the ' Snow-flake,' 

 as this bird is often called, fluttered up at our feet. The call-note of this species 

 is pleasing and musical, and the male has an agreeable song, which, however, I 

 have only heard from a caged bird. In captivity the Snow-Bunting will eat 

 almost any sort of seed, and geuerallv dies of plethora unless strictl}' dieted." 

 (Birds of Northamptonshire, Vol. I, pp. 171-172), 



Mr. Saxby speaking of them in Shetland, says: — "Seen against a dark hill- 

 side or a lowering sky, a flock of these birds presents an exceedingly beautiful 

 appearance, and it may then be seen how apllj^ the term "Snowflake" has been 

 applied to the species. I am acquainted with no more pleasing combination of 

 sight and sound than that afforded when a number of these birds, backed b\' a 

 dark grej' sky, drop as it were in a shower to the ground, to the music of their 

 own sweet tinkling notes." (Zoologist, p. 9484). 



The uidification of the Snow- Bunting is late ; most nests being apparently 

 obtainable in June and July, although in Iceland it nests as earl}' as May ; it 

 chooses heaps of stones, crevices in rocks or behind boulders, or piles of drift- 

 wood in which to build. 



The nest is bulky and constructed of dr}' grass, rootlets, sometimes birch or 

 other twigs, and a little moss : it is lined with down, hair, and a cpiantity of feathers. 

 The eggs number from four to eight; six or seven being (according to Seebohm) 

 a iisual clutch. Both in size and colouring they vary considerabl}', the ground- 

 colour being creamy or greyish-white, or pale greenish, spotted and blotched with 

 chocolate, and occasionally striated with blackish ; the shell-markings are pale 

 reddish-brown and lavender ; most of the markings are usually collected towards 

 or at the larger extremity. 



The food during the breeding-season consists largely of insects, but at other 

 times all kinds of seed are eaten, as well as corn. John Cordeaux says (Birds of 

 the Humber District): — "The little Snow-flake will find food and thrive in the 

 severest winters, after all our small feathered friends have been driven by frost and 

 snow from the cold and exposed marshes, feeding on the seeds of various grasses 

 picked from the withered bents rising above the carpet of snow. They are nearly 

 always excessively fat." "Roosts generally amongst rough grass on the pastures." 



During incubation, the male bird is in full soug, its notes being heard both 



