6 ExMBERIZIDiE. 



of the Arctic coasts and islands of America furnished almost 

 all the information possessed by naturalists concerning its 

 nidification. But here again the southern limit of its 

 breeding-range seems to be unknown. Audubon mentions 

 a nest found on the White Mountains of New Hampshire, 

 but from the description we may almost safely pronounce 

 that it did not belong to this species. Mr. Allen however, 

 on the authority of Mr. C. W. Bennett, states that a pair 

 reared their young in 1862 at Springfield in Massachusetts. 

 Still Mr. Reeks believes that the Snow-Bunting can hardly 

 breed in Newfoundland, where one would expect that it 

 should, though he saw many there in June 1868. In Green- 

 land it is very abundant and breeds generally throughout 

 the country, for it was even observed by Dr. Pansch to be 

 the commonest land-bird on its seldom-visited east coast. 



As alread}^ intimated on the approach of autumn the 

 Snow-Bunting migrates southward from most of its breed- 

 ing-quarters. In Iceland indeed it is found all the yenv 

 round, though we may presume that those which remain 

 there are comparatively few,^and large flocks visit the Faeroes 

 in winter-time, but in Norway at that season it rarely occurs 

 in the most northern districts. From Tromso, however, 

 southward it frequents the coast-region in countless num- 

 bers. These countries supply most of the examples which 

 regularly resort to our own islands and in some years 

 appear in vast flights. The beginning or middle of October 

 is usually the time of their arrival, but a few stragglers are 

 occasionally seen in September*, and though seA^ere weather 

 generally drives them further to the southward, in many 

 localities they abide with us till the end of March or begin- 

 ning of April. During their stay with us the greater 

 number afiect rough ground or open fields near the sea- 

 coast, but from time to time small parties occur fiir inland, 

 so that there is hardly a county in the three kingdoms in 



* The earliest date for Englaud is perhaps Sept. IGth, 1S75, on the Lincolnshire 

 coast, of which Mr. Cordeaux has informed the Jlditor ; but in the South-west of 

 Scotland Capt. Kennedy has observed it in July and August (Zool. s.s. p. 3914). 

 These birds may have been bred in Great Britain. 



