138 



Pledroplienax nivalis (L.), the Snow-Bunting. 



Pled7vphe7iax nivalis (L.), Trevok Battye, (1897), p. 579. 

 Plectrophanes tiivalis (L.), Kolthoff (1903), p. 34. 

 Passerina nivalis nivalis (Linn.), Schalow (1904), p. 251. 

 Passerina nivalis nivalis L., Zedlitz (1911), p. 326. 

 Plectrophanes nivalis (L.), le Roi (1911), p. 146. 



This bird, abounding throughout the Spitsbergen Archipelago, 

 the only representative of the Passeres, breeding here, was often 

 found by me in the Icefjord-area, and occurred most plentifully 

 near Cape Boheman. 



Throughout the Icefjord-region they breed on islands (e. g. Anser 

 Isles), or on the mainland, even rather high up the mountains. They 

 breed only in rock-crevices, under boulders and houses. In the 

 wet, swampy tundra they are also met, but only to seek food 

 there {Dipteral). 



The beautifully coloured male, with its pure white head, sings 

 very melodiously and likes to soar while singing. When on the 

 wing they utter a short call-note. Yet they are true ground-birds, 

 which do not like to fly over great distances. 



In the end of June I found many nests with 5 or 6 incubated 

 eggs in Tundra Boheman. When the site of the nest is approxi- 

 mately known, the nest-entrance is easily found, being mostly 

 trodden down by the in- and outgoing birds. The nest itself ge- 

 nerally lies at arm's length in the narrow crevice. The first flying, 

 dark-coloured young I observed on the Anser Isles on July 17 (O.E.). 



In the beginning of August the young of the year unite in large 

 flocks and at the same time the old birds begin to moult, which 

 is most distinctly visible in the male, dark spots appearing in the 

 pure white of its head. 



Towards the end of August I could state a strong decrease of 

 the number of Snow-Buntings throughout the Icefjord-area. Then 

 they begin to migrate partly; according to Bianchi (1902, cit. after 

 LE Roi (1911) p. 153) this takes place in the middle of September. 



Tardus musicus L., the Redwing. 



Turclus iliacus L., Kolthoff (1903), p. 95. 

 Turdus iliacus (Linn.), Schalow (1904), p. 268. 

 Turclus iliacus L., le Roi (1911), p. 145. 



On our visit to Dickson Land on July 13 a dead specimen was 



