512 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



(Baird, 1858), and the rest coming under Centrophanes (Kaup). The char- 

 acters upon which these are based are very trivial, being mainly the varying 

 degree of size of the bill and length of the hind claw. In this latter respect 

 there is too much individual variation in the same species to admit of this 

 being available as a specific, much less as a subgeneric character, while the 

 size of the bill is not of more than specific importance. 



Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer. 



SNOW-BUNTING. 



Emhcriza nivalis, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 11 &Q, 2,09, {not Fringilla nivalis, L.). — Forster, 

 Phila. Trans. LXII, 1772, 403. —Wilson, Am. Oni. Ill, 1811, 86, pi. x.\i. — Aud. 

 Orn. Biog. II, 1834, 575; V, 1839, 496, pi. 189. Embcriza {Plcdroplumes) nivalis, 

 Bon. Obs. 1825, No. 89. ''Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer." — Bon. List, 1838. — Aud. 

 Syii. 1839, 103. — Ib. Birds Am. Ill, 1841, 55, pi. 155. — Max. Cab. J. VI, 1858, 345 

 (Spitzbergen). — Baird, Birds N. Am. 1858, 432. — Newton, Ibis, 1865, 502. — Dall 

 & Bannister, Tr. Ch. A. S. I, 1869, 282 (Alaska). — Cooper, Orn. Cal. I, 177. — 

 Samuels, 296. Embcriza montana, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 867, 25. Embcriza mustc- 

 lina, Gmelin, Syst. I, 1788, 867, 7. Embcriza rjlacialis, Latham, ind. Orn. 1, 1790, 398. 



Sp. Char. Male. Colors, in spring plumage, entirely black and white. Middle ol' back 

 between scapulars, terminal half of primaries and tertiaries, and two innermost tail- 

 feathers, black ; elsewhere pure white. Legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white 

 beneath ; the head and rump yellowish-brown, as also some blotches on the side of the 

 breast ; middle of back brown, streaked with black ; white on wings and tail mucli more 

 restricted. Length about 6.7.5'; wings, 4..35 ; tail, 3.05 ; first quill longest. Female. 

 Spring, continuous white beneath only ; above entirely streaked, the feathers having 

 blackish centres and whitish edges ; the black streaks predominate on the back and 

 crown. Young. Light gray above with obsolete dusky streaks on the back ; throat and 

 jugulum paler gray, the latter with obsolete streaks; rest of lower parts dull white. 

 Wing-coverts, secondaries, and tail-feathers broadly edged with light ochraceous-brown. 



Hab. Northern America from Atlantic to Pacific ; south into the United States in 

 winter, as far as Georgia and Southern Illinois. 



Specimens from North America and Europe appear to be quite identical ; 

 there is, however, a great amount of variation among individuals. 



Habits. The common Snow Banting is found throughout northern North 

 America to the shores of the Arctic Sea, and in the winter months extends 

 its migrations into the United States as indicated above. 



Mr. Dall states that in Alaska, when observed, they went altogether in 

 fiocks. It was at times excessively common, and at others entirely absent. 

 It builds its nests on the hillside, generally on the ground, under the lee of 

 a stone. He obtained a large number of these birds at Nulato, in the winter 

 of 1867 - 68. It w-as much more common there than the P. lapponicus, which 

 was only seen in the spring, while this bird was there all the year round. Mr. 

 Dall also met with these birds on St. George's Island, and Mr. Bischoff ob- 

 tained them at Sitka. According to Mr. Bannister's observations it was 

 altogether less abundant than the P. lapj^onicns, and seemed to prefer rather 



