20 EMBERIZIDiE. 



ing to Eversniann, is very common on the Kirgis Steppes. 

 Thence we have no intelligence as to the extent of its 

 winter-migrations till we come to China, its appearance in 

 the northern parts of which country has heen already 

 noticed. In America the limits of its range at the same 

 season are also uncertain, hut it would seem not to reach 

 California on the west, further to the southward than the 

 Upper Missouri in the interior, or Kentucky and Pennsylv- 

 ania for the eastern part of the continent. Richardson 

 never met with this species in the Fur-countries during 

 winter, but in 1827 it appeared on the plains at Carlton 

 House about the middle of May and on the newly-ploughed 

 land at Cumberland House, which is a little further to the 

 north, a few days later; but in the preceding year many 

 were seen early in May at Fort Franklin, though that is 

 situated within a degree of the Arctic Circle. The latest 

 collections, made by Kennicott and others, in this part of 

 the Dominion of Canada speak to the abundance of the 

 Lapland Bunting near the Mackenzie River and the Great 

 Slave Lake. 



In its fondness for swampy places and its general appear- 

 ance this bird much resembles our common Reed-Bunting, 

 so that it may have been often mistaken for that species ; 

 but, though frequently perching on bushes, it runs on the 

 ground as does the Snow-Bunting ; and, except in the breed- 

 ing-season, has many times been observed in company with 

 the latter or associated with the Shore-Lark. As to its 

 food little has been ascertained. The crops of those killed 

 at Fort Franklin were filled, says Richardson, with the 

 seeds of Arbutus aljiina, but the Chinese, according to 

 Mr. Swinhoe, take them in springes baited with the small 

 maggots which are found in decaying millet-stalks, these 

 birds must therefore have a strong fancy for animal food 

 even in winter. Herr Collett found only small insects and 

 gravel in the stomachs of those which he examined during 

 the summer in Norway. 



The adult male in full breeding-plumage has the bill 

 yellow, with the point black : irides hazel : the whole of 



