190 THE SNOW-BUNTING. 



On its first arrival in flocks, which is often the precursor 

 of stormy weather,^ it frequents the lea and stubble fields in 

 the neighbourhood of the sea- coast, and is shortly afterwards 

 observed on the uplands of the Lammermuirs. I saw a 

 large flock near Longformacus in November 1874, and 

 Mr. Lockie, Gateside School, Spottiswoode, states that it is 

 numerous in winter on Corsbie Muir, and likewise in the 

 Westruther, Spottiswoode, and Earlston districts. Mr. 

 Tilly, Lauder, writes that he has frequently noticed flocks 

 on Trabroun Farm in Lauderdale, at the same season, where 

 their arrival is regarded as the sign of an approaching 

 heavy snow-storm.^ Mr. John Wilson, of Welnage, Duns, 

 has informed me that he has often seen great flocks on 

 Edington Mains Farm, in stormy weather in winter. Mr. 

 Hardy, who has given many interesting notes in the History 

 of the Berwicksldrc Naturalists' Chib on the migration of 

 this bird, mentions Penmanshiel, Oldcambus, Bowshiel, 

 Dowlaw, Lamberton, and Fairneyside, as some of its favourite 

 resorts in the vicinity of the sea-coast.^ 



In winter the Snow-Bunting assembles in large parties, 

 which are continually itting about their feeding-grounds, 

 uttering their tinkling call-notes, and often wheeling rapidly 



1881.— Isle of May, 24tli Sep. to lOth Dec. ; Fames, 6th Oct. to end of year. 

 Spring 1882. — Isle of May, ISth Feb. to 15tl} April ; Fames, in March. Autumn 

 1882.— Isle of May, 19th Sep. Spring 1883.— Isle of May, 23rcl March ; Fames, 

 7th March. Autumn 1883.— Isle of May, 21st Sep. to 18th Jan. 1884. Spring 

 1884. — Fames, 11th March to 7th June ; one on rocks at latter date. Autumn 

 1884.— Isle of May, in Oct. Spring 1885.— Isle of May, 7th Feb. ; Fames, 4th 

 March. Autumn 1885. — Isle of May, in Sep., Oct., and Nov. — Reports on 

 Migration of Birds, 1879-85. 



1 Mr. Cordeaux, in his Report on the Migration of Birds on the East Coast of 

 England in the Autumn of 1880, says : — " The immigration of Snow-Buntings on 

 the north-easterly coasts in four distinct rushes, namely, at the end of October, 

 November, December, and January 1881, has been attended with corresponding 

 depressions of the barometer, and outbui'sts of arctic weather." Mr. Harvie- 

 Brown, in his account of migration on the east coast of Scotland in the autumn 

 of 1883 (Isle of May), states that "Snow-Buntings often appear with gales of 

 snow and sleet;" and Mr. Hardy, in his MS. Notes, writes— "Mr. Hood, 

 Townhead, always prophesied snow on the arrival of the Snow-Flakes. " 



2 See vols, vii., viii., i.x., and x. of the Hist. Ber. Nat. Club. 



