1884-85.] Edinburgh Naturalists' Field Club. 209 



of food, which the deep suow on the hills denies to them for the 

 time being. Single birds and pairs may be noticed on those 

 occasions in the low grounds, quite close to houses, and also in 

 farm-yards, Inmger having forced them from their ordinary haunts 

 to make common cause with Sparrows and suchlike — a levelling 

 of rank that suggests a union of patricians and jilebs. During 

 the very severe storm of January 1881, a friend and myself noticed 

 a pair feeding on the road at the end of the Windy-Goul nearest 

 Duddingston. They seemed devoid of all fear, and not to be the 

 least embarrassed by the numbers of people constantly passing 

 and repassing, but continued picking up something from amongst 

 the snow on the road — most likely grain that had fallen out of the 

 nose-bags of cab-horses, of whom, as the loch was " bearing," there 

 had been a good many during the week conveying parties to the 

 skating. The true sphere in which to observe the Snow-Buntings 

 in their glory is on the wild and lonesome Highland muirs — those 

 dreary solitudes which during winter are wellnigh devoid of other 

 bird life, and which are as destitute of human beings. To one 

 who has penetrated to such scenes, and experienced the oppressive 

 stillness and desolation that pertains to them, a flock of Snow- 

 Buntings comes as a sudden relief to the depression begotten by 

 the surroundings. The intense enjoyment with which they seem 

 to welcome the icy gusts that blow along the heights has some- 

 thing infectious in its character, and rouses in the beholder a 

 species of excitement that defies the cold and disagreeableness of 

 the situation, which at another time would be simply intolerable. 

 As blast follows blast, they fly from point to point in a compact 

 mass, never at any great height above the ground ; and on the 

 occasion of a lull, down they settle on the ground, to be again set 

 in motion by the recurrence of the gale. Their mode of squatting 

 is most abrupt, and so sudden as to have no appearance of any 

 preconcerted arrangement on the part of the birds, although such 

 can hardly be the case, as the entire flock collapse so unitedly at 

 one and the same moment, as sufficiently to disabuse our minds of 

 any such conclusion. They circle round and round with the most 

 eccentric gyrations, striking off at a tangent, only to double back 

 when least expected — presenting at one moment a brown surface 

 to the eye, from the backs being most prominent, but at the angle 

 of turning the colour changes instantaneously to that .of pure 

 white, consequent on the lower parts being exposed as they veer 

 round. While engaged in these evolutions they chirp to each 

 other in clear sweet notes, that are much more musical than any 

 produced by the three afore-mentioned species ; but although the 

 males are said to soar somewhat higher in the scale of melody 

 during summer time, yet, so far as this country is concerned, these 

 few chirps may practically be said to embrace their entire repertoire. 



