296 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
Mr. Verrill says that it is found rarely in Maine. It is con- 
sidered by some ornithologists as identical with the pre- 
ceding. 
PLECTROPHANES, Meyer. 
Plectrophanes, Meyer, Taschenbuch (1810). Agassiz. (Type Emberiza nivalis.) 
Bill variable, conical, the lower mandible higher than the upper; the sides of 
both mandibles (in the typical species) guarded by a closely applied brush of stiffened 
bristly feathers directed forwards, and in the upper jaw concealing the nostrils; the 
outlines of the bill nearly straight, or slightly curved; the lower jaw considerably 
broader at the base than the upper, and wider than the gonys is long; tarsi consid- 
ably longer than the middle toe; the lateral toes nearly equal (the inner claw 
largest), and reaching to the base of the middle claw; the hinder claw very long; 
moderately curved and acute; considerably longer than its toe; the toe and claw 
together reaching to the middle of the middle claw, or beyond its tip; wings very 
long and much pointed, reaching nearly to the end of the tail; the first quill longest, 
the others rapidly graduated; the tertiaries a little longer than the secondaries; tail 
moderate, about two-thirds as long as the wings; nearly even, or slightly emargi- 
nated. 
PLECTROPHANES NIVALIS. — Meyer. 
The Snow Bunting. 
Emberiza nivalis, Linneus. Syst. Nat., I. (1766) 308. Wils. Am. Orn., III. 
(1811) 86; Aud. Orn. Biog., II. (1884) 515; V. (1839) 496. 
“ Plectrophanes nivalis, Meyer.’”? Bon. List (1838). 
DESCRIPTION. 
Colors, in full plumage, entirely black and white; middle of back between scapu- 
Jars, terminal half of primaries and tertiaries, and two innermost tail feathers, black; 
elsewhere pure-white; legs black at all seasons. In winter dress white beneath; 
the head and rump yellowish-brown, as also some blotches on the side of the breast; 
middle of back brown, streaked with black; white on wings and tail much more 
restricted. 
This species varies much in color; and the male in full plumage is seldom, if ever, 
seen within the limits of the United States. 
Length, about six and seventy-five one-hundredths inches; wing, four and thirty- 
five one-hundredths; tail, three and five one-hundredths inches; first quill longest. 
This is a very common winter visitor in all parts of New 
England, but is most abundant in localities near the sea- 
coast. I have seen flocks of hundreds of individuals in the 
marshes in Plymouth County, Mass., and have almost 
always noticed that they were accompanied by Shore-larks 
and Redpolls. They feed on seeds of various wild plants 
