SNOW BUNTING. 41 



Dimensions. Length, 6.05; stretch, 12.50; wing, 4.25; 

 tail, 2.G0 ; bill, 2.40 ; tarsus, .75. 



Comparisons. This ia the whitest of all members of the 

 Famil}' which occur with us and may be readily distinguished 

 by this and the black markings. 



Nests and Eggs. Nests placed on the ground, composed of 

 grass lined with feathers. Eggs four or five in number, oval 

 in form, ashy white in color when faded, but pinkish when 

 fresh, spotted and blotched with yellowish rufous, usually 

 more thickly on the larger end. Dimensions, .62 by .90. 



General Habits. With the coming of the winter winds 

 and snow these Buntings ap})ear in huge flocks. With us 

 here in Massachusetts, they frequent the coast rather than 

 the interior, but during long, severe easterly storms, they are 

 forced to retreat into the interior. They are nervous, active 

 birds, running about on the snow among the partly covered 

 weeds, gathering a few seeds here and there, then some one 

 among the flock will become startled at some real or fancied 

 danger, and uttering a sharp chirp of alarm will rise followed 

 by all its companions. The flock once on the wing will circle 

 several times about the field, but will seldom alight again in 

 the immediate vicinity. They remain with us sometimes as 

 late as the first week in April, when they depart for their 

 home in the Arctic Region. 



iSoNG. When with us they have a loud, clear whistle and a 

 a kind of chirring sound which they utter when flying, but 

 in their home, they give a very sweet warbling song which is 

 emitted as the bird rises high in air, and at its termination 

 drops to the ground. 



