2l6 SNOW-BUNTING. 



the Mediterranean, Malta, Tangier in Morocco, and occasionally to 

 the Azores. In the northern portions of Europe it is of annual 

 occurrence, but its visits to the south are exceptional. 



Near the southern extremity of its breeding-range the Snow- 

 Bunting builds on the rugged sides of mountains, but in the Shet- 

 lands, Faeroes, and the high north the nest is often but little above 

 sea level ; generally in some crevice behind rocks and boulders, or 

 among the piles of drift-wood which fringe the shores of the Arctic 

 Sea. It is formed of dry grass and moss, with a lining of a few hairs 

 and a good many feathers — especially those of the Ptarmigan ; 

 the eggs, 4-6 in number, are greyish-white, spotted and blotched 

 with brownish-red and purplish-black : average measurements '86 by 

 ■62 in. While the female is sitting the male utters a low and melo- 

 dious warble, often hovering in the air; the call-note is a long- 

 drawn tsee. In summer both young and old feed principally on 

 insects, but in autumn and winter they live on seeds, and do some 

 damage to newly-sown corn. On the ground the Snow-Bunting runs 

 with rapidity, but it also hops, and has frequently been observed 

 to perch on trees. 



The adult male in breeding-plumage has the mantle, scapulars, 

 inner secondaries, terminal part of primaries, and the six central 

 tail-feathers, black ; the rest of the plumage mostly white ; bill, legs 

 and feet black; hind claw shorter thaaits toe. Length 6*55 in. ; wing 

 4*4 in. In the female the head and neck are mottled with greyish- 

 black; the upper parts are greyish-black, except the secondaries, 

 which are chiefly white. In autumn the bird, as figured, has the 

 feathers of the upper parts broadly edged with dull chestnut ; bill 

 yellow with black tip : in this state it has been called the ' Tawny 

 Bunting.' In winter the chestnut margins gradually become white. 

 The young bird is greyish-brown, with darker spots on both upper 

 and under parts ; a specimen is figured in Messrs. Harvie-Brown 

 and Buckley's ' Fauna of Sutherland &c.' 



IcTERiD^. — Males of the introduced American Red-winged 

 Starling, Agelceus p/uvnurus, have been captured in this country, 

 but it is significant that the females, which are dull-coloured and 

 therefore seldom imported, have never been taken ! Attempts have 

 been made to swell the British list by including in it escaped 

 examples of the American Meadow-Starling, Stumella magna ; the 

 American Rustic Grackle, ScoLxophagiis ferrugineits ; and the Indian 

 Mynah, Graciila religiosa. 



