62 THE NATURALIST IN BERMUDA. 
I followed, and with no little shame for the act, shot the 
poor bird as it rose in a fallow, a genuine Alauda arvensis, 
and a total stranger to the shores of America. Whence it 
came is an interesting problem for the consideration of 
ornithologists.* 
Snow Buntine (Plectrophanes nivalis). They also ap- 
peared in 1849 and 1853. I have noted twelve specimens 
shot, and one killed with a stone. In December, 1850, a 
year fertile beyond precedent in ornithological occurrences, 
flocks of the snow bunting were observed on the hills of 
Port Royal, near the lighthouse. Those that I examined 
were in beautiful plumage, and very fat. 
Rice Brrp (Dolichonyx oryzivora). The “wandering rice 
bird” is one of the marvels of the American continent. It 
breeds in Canada and the United States, north of the 40th 
degree of latitude, swarms in the rice fields of Pennsylvania 
early in October, proceeding thence to the islands of Cuba 
and Jamaica, and early in November departing for the con- 
tinent of South America.. In the month of April they are 
again seen in Jamaica for a few days on their migration to 
the north. Darwin mentions this bird, as being found at 
the Gallapagos Islands in the Pacific ; it is therefore known 
to traverse forty degrees of latitude in its wonderful flight 
from north to south, and vice versa. What its movements 
may be from November to March inclusive, remain to be 
proved by future observers. 
The rice bird is not known to visit the Bermudas on its 
vernal flight, although in September and October, it seldom 
fails of being found there, generally in small flocks, and on 
* The specimen was presented to Major Wedderburn. 
