Lapland Longspur 87 



Sparrow, but lacks the prominent spot in the center of the 

 breast. In its low, jerky flight it is easily distinguished by the 

 white feathers in the tail. It has a very pleasing song. 



The nests that I have found have always been placed in 

 ploughed ground. They were mere depressions in the soil, 

 with a few grasses at the bottom, and the eggs numbered four 

 or five; light slaty ground, blotched and marked with dark 

 brown. 



Lapland Longspur. — Calcarius lapponicus. 6.24 

 Rare Winter Visitant 



Field marks. — Upper parts buffy, streaked with blackish- 

 brown; crescent of black spots across breast; under parts 

 whitish; indistinct chestnut bar across nape; has sparrow- 

 like appearance; if examined closely the long hind nail 

 is discovered. 



Sometimes a small flock of these Finches is seen hereabouts 

 in Winter, and a few have been observed in early Spring 

 and late Fall. They are not easy to identify. 



Snowflake; Snow Bunting. — Passerina nivalis. 6.88 



Irregular Winter Visitant 



Field marks. — Entire bird appears white at distance; on closer 

 view, wash of rusty on shoulders, brownish on top of head, 

 lower two-thirds of primaries black, middle wing-coverts 

 blackish. 



In extremely snowy Winters large flocks of these hardy 

 little birds sweep down from the Northland and invade Albany 



