NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 295 



P. domesticus^ but averaging " smaller and usually darker and redder." 

 The bird is thoroughly naturalized in the vicinity of St. Louis, 

 Missouri. 



534. Plectrophenax nivalis (Linn.) [i86.] 



Suo'wflake. 



Hab. Circumpolar regions, except islands of Bering Sea ; south in winter to Northern United States; 

 irregularly to Georgia, Southern Illinois, and Kansas. 



This beautiful, white bird breeds in the high Arctic regions, only 

 visiting the Northern United States in winter in large flocks. It is 

 known as the Snow Bunting, and is beautifully called a "warm- 

 blooded Snowflake." Many a dreary winter landscape is made a 

 picturesque scene when thousands are seen in their flight drifting 

 before a storm. 



The nest of this bird is placed on the ground, and is often hidden 

 by a tossock of grass or rock ; it is built of grass peculiar to the Arctic 

 regions, mixed with moss, is very substantial, with thick walls, and a 

 small, deep cavity, which is warmly lined with feathers. 



Mr. Norris has a set of four eggs of this species, which was taken 

 in Iceland, May 30, 1882. The eggs were fresh, and are of a pale 

 greenish-white, speckled and spotted, most heavily near the larger ends, 

 with russet and lilac-gray. Their sizes are .84 x. 61, .88x-.67, .88x.6i, 

 .86 X .64. The ground-color in a large series is said to vary considerably — 

 from whitish to dull purplish or greenish tint, and the average size is 

 .91 X .64. 



* * Plectrophenax nivalis townsendi Ridgw. 



Pryliilof Sno-wflake. 



Hab. Prybilof Islands, Alaska, and Commander Islands, Kamtschatka. 



This new sub-species is doubtless the bird found breeding by Dr. 

 Stejneger on Bering and Copper Islands, in June and July. He states 

 that it is resident on the islands during the whole year. If the season 

 is open and otherwise favorable, the first eggs will be laid shortly after 

 the middle of May ; the young will be out in the beginning of June. 

 In July he found fresh eggs of a second brood. The smallest eggs in 

 the number taken measure .94 x .69, .96 x .67, .93 x .73 ; the largest in 

 long diameter, 1.06. 



536. Calcarius lapponicus (Linn.) [187] 



Lapland liOugspnr. 



Hab. Arctic regions of both hemispheres; in North America south in winter to Northern United 

 States, sometimes as far as South Carolina, Kentucky, Kansas, Nevada, etc. 



As its name indicates, this is a boreal bird, and in North America 

 its summer honie is in the regions about Great Slave Lake, Mackenzie 

 River, and Alaska. In these places it breeds abundantly in May, June, 

 and July. In the United States it appears as a winter visitor, in flocks, 



