134 



CHAPTER XYI1. 



The Buntings. The Finches. The Crossbills. The Pigeons. 



Two or three species of bunting are common in this 

 country, but are seldom seen in England. 



The snow bunting is subject to varieties in colour, 

 according to the season of the year. The Lapland 

 bunting is common in Norway. The snow bunting 

 (Emberiza nivalis) is common during the summer 

 months in the northern fjelds of Norway. It is seen 

 above the regions of perpetual snow ; is called here 

 the snespurv, or snow sparrow; it has its winter 

 plumage in this country from October to March. The 

 summer plumage of a bird shot in the Dovre-fjeld is 

 snow-white, except the back, which is black ; the 

 contrast between the two colours gives the bird a re- 

 markable appearance, and the separation of the black 

 and white is as evenly marked as if it had been done 

 with a compass. In the middle of winter there is a 

 considerable tinge of red-brown on various parts of 

 the plumage. It breeds among the highest fjelds, and 

 makes its nest on the ground, in a place where there 

 are stones lying about ; it begins to sit towards the 



