LA^L.A^"D LU^'G^PUK. 



51; 



tliv? iutrrion in l-,(t. it i\'i_ui)-c;< a scries ()l'[>n)trncU(l easterly storms to foroL'theni to leave 

 the sea s'lori'. 



The liahits of tlie Snow Buntings an- all cliaracteristii- of the species, from the restless, 

 whirling tiiglit to tlie nervous, active manner in which they run on the snifacc of tlie 

 snow, jiausing a moment to gather some seeds from a 

 nearly sulnnerged weed or to gaze aljout them, then dart- . ,v 



ing (juickly away for a few \'ards will again pause abruptlv. 

 Suddenly, some one among them, either startled at fancied 

 or real danger, will give the clear chir[) of alarm, and 

 instantlv the whole Hock is in air. Once on the win<i', it 

 appears difficult for them to make up their minds to 

 alight again, and generally after wlieeling about the place 

 from which they rose for u few times, the\- will fpiickly 

 disa])peai' in the distance. Even when about t(j alight on 

 a held, they will pass and repass a (lesii'al)le sj)ot several 

 times, tiying lower and lower, until at length thoroughlv 

 satisfied that there are no enemies concealed among the 



weed tops, or awaiting them amid the snow, they abruptly- alight, but are off again upon 

 the slightest alarm. Sm-ely such habits of extreme caution must have been accpiired 

 among the arctic foxes and wdiite ermines of their northern home, whose colors render 

 them inconspicuous alike in summer and winter, even to such sharp eyes as are possessed 

 by the Snow Buntings. 



I have often wondered where the Snow Buntings pass the night, esjiecialh- durino- 

 those severe storms when the thermometer registers far belo\v zero, or, worse still, when 

 the rain and sleet freezes as it falls. With us here in Newtonville the Snow Buntings 

 always depart at nightfall, tiying eastward toAvards the coast, often fl\ing into the very 

 teeth of a severe easterly gale. These little Ijirds must po.ssess an Esquimau.\-like 

 faculty of existmg when buried beneath the snow, during the night, otherwise some of the 

 severe blizzards which they have to encounter would sweep them about like drv leaves. 



The Snow Buntings remain in New England until the melting of the snow in the 

 spring, and with its disappearance, they, too, leave us for their far away arctic home. 



_ P^i'i. .V;. Head of Adult Male 

 Snow Bunting, in Winter. 



GENUS XXIV. CALCARIUS. THE LONGSPURS. 



Gen. Ch. Bill, about as in the Snow Buntinjxs. posslbl}- a little stouter. AVings, proportionately 

 shorter, not reaching beyond the middle of the tail when folded. Hind toe nail longer than its toe. Color. 

 Black, brown, white and buff. We have three species within our limits. 



CALCARIUS LAPPONIICUS. 

 Lapland Longspur. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Form, slender. Size, medium. Color. Adult male in summer. Head, throat and breast, 

 Hack, with a stripe over eye, extending from bill to neck, buff. There is a broad chestnut collar on back of 



