224 Birds of Oregon and Washington 



known places in the mountains, and are seen 

 only in winter and in early spring. 



THE SNOWFLAKE, OR SNOW-BUNTING. 



Length, 6.5 inches plus. 



The Snowflake, or Snow-Bunting, which nests 

 within the Arctic Circle, may be seen not infre- 

 quently during the winter months in eastern 

 Oregon and Washington. His coming is not for 

 a warmer temperature, it would seem, but for 

 the light, and for the abundant food that may be 

 gathered from the tall weeds and grasses stand- 

 ing above the snow. He may be seen on the 

 northern prairies of our country, clear across the 

 continent, and the little creature seems fairly to 

 rejoice in the blizzards and the low temperatures, 

 in the severity of which men and beasts perish. 



Description. — Winter plumage : Head, back and 

 inner wing-feathers, more or less reddish-brown and 

 black ; tail, centre-feathers black, outer-feathers white ; 

 breast and sides, slightly brownish ; abdomen, white. 



Only a winter resident. 



His winter habitat is over the whole northern 

 half of the United States. 



