134 Tnu Alpine Accentor. 



centre of abdomen, and under tail-coverts smoky-grey ; flanks chestnut, with 

 huffish edges to the feathers ; bill with the upper mandible mostly black, base 

 yellowish ; lower mandible yellowish, black at the tip ; feet flesh-brownish ; iris 

 hazel. Young birds have the plumage spotted with rufous, aud the white on the 

 throat is wanting. 



Gatke says: — "This interesting native of the mountains has not considered it 

 beneath his dignity to leave his Alpine home in order to find a place in the group 

 of distinguished visitors to little Heligoland. I have obtained the bird on three 

 occasions: two individuals in spring plumage in May, 1852 and 1870, aud oue in 

 autumn plumage in October, 1862. Apart from these instances, there is certain 

 proof of its having been seen on two other occasions, but the birds in question 

 could not be shot on account of their extraordinary shyness." 



Seebohm, on the authority of various observers, states that the " Alpine 

 Accentor is a summer visitor to the grassy slopes where a brilliant arctic flora, 

 watered by the ever-melting ice, covers the ledges of the rocks and the little 

 plateaux amongst the boulders, between the highest limit of forest- growth and 

 the lowest boundary of perpetual snow. Its migrations, however, are very limited. 

 When its breeding-grounds are covered with snow it descends into the valleys, 

 and in severe winters will sometimes wander further from home and be seen in 

 unwonted localities. Except, perhaps, when actually engaged in the duties of 

 nidification, it is a more or less gregarious bird." 



On the earth this bird both runs and hops, like the Hedge-Accentor ; it 

 certainly does fiof " drop its head and the fore part of its body suddenly, at the 

 same time jerking its tail and drooping its wings." It is an exceedingl}^ nervous 

 bird, more so than the Hedge- Accentor. The call-note is described variously as 

 a plaintive /rei; tree, tree, and /;/, /;/, tri : so far as I can trust my memory it is 

 tswee, tswee, tsivee ; I am sure it is neither of the others, because no bird but a 

 talking species could utter such soiinds. 



Seebohm describes the song as a rich liquid cliie/i, icb, ich, ich ; but it is also 

 said to sing like a lark. 



Towards the end of May the nest is formed under a rock or bush upon the 

 earth ; it is a neatly constructed cup, consisting of dry round grass-stalks, inter- 

 woven with rootlets and lichens, and lined with fine moss, wool, hair or feathers. 

 The eggs vary in number from four to five, and are pale turquoise blue in colour. 



It has been stated that this species is double-brooded, the second nest being 

 constructed about the middle of July ; and, although there is no absolute proof of 

 this, it is exceedingly probable.* According to Count Wodzicki, it breeds in 



» U is well-known tli:it the Iledge-Accenlor nests twice and sometimes three times a year. 



