Descriptive List 



233 



been credited in this State -uith destroying the harlequin cabbage-bug. The nest, 

 which is built among the branches of trees or placed in any convenient hole or 

 crevice about a building, is a large, untidy structure of grass, weed stems, or other 

 available material, and is well lined with feathers. Two or three broods are raised 

 in a season. The eggs number from four to six and are usually more or less spotted. 

 The laws of the State do not protect this bird, and it is almost universally re- 

 garded as a nuisance, as it drives our native birds out of the towns into the coun- 

 try, where they more readily fall a prey to their natural enemies. 



Genus Plectrophenax (Stejn.) 

 220. Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis [Linn.). Snow Bunting. 



Description: Ad. male in summer. — Whole head and neck, rump, and underparts wliite; back 

 and scapulars black; outer primaries black, white basally, secondaries wholly white; outer tail- 

 feathers white; inner ones black. Ad. female in sianmer. — Similar, but upperparts streaked with 

 black; outer primaries all fuscous; secondaries more or less tipped with fuscous. Male in urinter. — • 

 Upperparts a kind of rusty brown, almost umber on the center of the crown; back streaked with 

 black, caused by the black bases of the feathers showing tlu'ough theii' rusty tips; wings and tail 

 much as in summer, but more or less edged with rusty; underparts white, the brea,st and sides 

 washed with rusty. Female in urinter. — Similar to male, but wings as in summer. L., 6.88; W., 

 4.07; T., 2.70; B., .42. (Chap., Birds of E. N. A.) 



Range. — Circumpolar regions, .south in winter regularly to northern United States. 



Range in North Carolina. — Occasional winter straggler. 



Jig. 183. Snow Bunting. 



The Snowflake or Snow Bunting is a bird of the far North, vi.siting the Northern 

 States in large flocks in winter. In North Carolina it has been recorded only twice. 

 Bishop took three specimens at Pea Island, Dare County, on February 14, 1901, 

 and Mr. Bainbridge AVilson, Route No. 3, Vienna, Va., took a specimen at 

 Oriental, N. C, on January 26, 1918. (Reported to Pearson by Dr. Charles W. 

 Richmond, of Washington, D. C, under date of September 27, 1918.) 



Genus Calcarius (Bechst.) 

 221. Calcarius lapponicus lapponicus {Linn.). L.\pland Longspur. 



Description. — Hind toe-nail as long as or longer than toe. Ad. male in summer. — Head, neck, 

 throat, and breast black; a buffy line behind the eye; nape rufous; back streaked with black and 



