450 PLECTROniANES NIVALIS. 



loose that the greatest caution was necessary to avoid their falling on one — 

 large stones rolling down at the slightest touch. It was tedious work, and 

 not a sign of the birds we were in searcli of. It was now one o'clock, and M. 

 asked whether I would lunch. I replied, not until I get out of the cold 

 north-east wind and to some water. So we trudged on, edging downwards. 

 At the bottom of the corrie was a small loch, whose green water was remark- 

 able. We had just got clear of the stones when I saw a bird fly to a green 

 spring or soft bog. I called out to M. for my glasses, and he being about ten 

 yards in advance came running back. It was indeed a Snow-Bunting — the hen 

 bird — that T had seen ; but we soon perceived the cock, in most lovely black- 

 and-white plumage, feeding with her. We sat down and watched them. 

 Presently the cock flew away to a distance of two hundred yards, and settled 

 on a rock, sometimes flying up into the air, and uttering his short but 

 melodious warble. The hen presently took a sweep round, alighting among the 

 stones about one hundred feet above us. As she disappeared, we mounted to 

 the stone which M. had marked. No sooner had he struck it than the bird 

 reappeared within six feet of us. Then she flew about backwards and forwards 

 close to us. I observed that she was sufiering badly from a distressing com- 

 plaint, well known to those who keep birds in confinement as ' asthma.' She 

 then flew to some distance, but the cock came and drove her up to us. 

 Seeing that she would not go on, we retired a few yards, when she disappeared. 

 As we could not see the exact spot we tried to approach ; but the moment we 

 moved the treacherous stones betrayed us, and she reappeared. I then got 

 higher up, where I could command the spot, and after she had again dis- 

 appeared, M. cautiously approached. She instantly appeared again ; but 

 I marked the spot, and we went to it and moved the stones carefully, when 

 in the course of a few minutes I had the satisfaction of seeing the nest with 

 five beautiful eggs. Though perfectly invisible from without, it was not more 

 than a foot or eighteen inches from the surface. The nest was neatly made of 

 fine bents, with a foundation of coarse black moss, and two or three Ptarmigan- 

 feathers with some tiny pieces of sheep's wool inside. The eggs were 

 richly spotted with bright red, and quite fresh. Having blown them, we 

 descended to the spring, where we had first seen the birds, and had our lunch 

 at ten minutes to two o'clock. We met with no adventures going home, 

 where we arrived at half-past six." 



Subsequently, Mr. Young informed me that this nest was placed far above 

 the line of heather-gTOwth, and Azalea procumbens was the only plant to be 

 seen, while patches of snow lay here and there. Wlien removing the last 

 stone which overlaid the nest, which he had already seen, he was much afraid 

 lest something should fall upon it, but with some little difliculty he got it out 

 safely. He also informed me that fifteen years before {i. e. 1873), upon one of 

 the highest mountains in Scotland, he " came across an excited pair of Snow- 

 Buntings, whose demeanour plainly shewed that they had a nest in the 

 immediate vicinity. Our endeavours to find it were, however, frustrated by a 

 heavy snow-storm, which forced us to retreat to the valleys below." He 

 determined to renew the search, but was hindered by bad weather, and it was 

 not until 1888 that he again had the chance of looking for a Snow-Bunting's 

 nest in Scotland. As I correct these pages for the press I regret hearing of 

 my good friend's death.] 



