Longspur SONG-BIRDS. 



Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, Redpolls, Snowflakes, and, 

 rarest of all, Lapland Loiigspurs, the first time that I had 

 identified them here. 



The Redpolls and Snowfiakes were feeding under similar 

 conditions, the Redpolls keeping under cover of bushes and 

 furrows, while the Snowfiakes were in the open, and the 

 flock continually arose with the drifting snow and settled 

 again like a part of it, uttering a soft chirp as they shifted. 



Lapland Longspur: Calcarius lapponicus 



Length: 6.50 inches. 



Male : Winter plumage, top of head black, edged with rusty, black 

 above, the feathers all tipped with white. A rusty black patch 

 behind and beneath the eye. Below grayish, with faint black 

 markings. Bill yellow, tipped with black ; feet and legs black. 

 Long hind claw or spur. 



Female : Rusty gray above, whitish below. 



Song : A charming song in the breeding-season, uttered while soaring 

 like the Skylark's. 



Season : A winter visitor ; rare locally, but common on the Massa- 

 chusetts coast and also noted by Mr. Averill as associating with 

 Shore Larks near Stratford, Conn. 



Breeds : In the Arctic regions, where it has a thick, fur-lined, grass 

 nest, set in moss on the ground. 



Range: Northern portions of the Northern Hemisphere; in North 

 America, south, in winter, into the northern United States, 

 irregularly to the Middle States, accidentally to South Carolina, 

 and abundantly in the interior to Kansas and Colorado. 



When we are fortunate enough to see the Longspur, he is 

 wearing his winter dress, which resembles somewhat the 

 plumage of the Titlark. 



I always considered them rare birds hereabout, until 

 I found them near the shore last February. I was first 

 attracted by unusual claw marks in the new snow, where it 

 was soft enough to take distinct impressions, under the 

 south side of a rick of salt hay. The Longspur is a ground 

 feeder like the Larks and Buntings, and the mark of the 

 long hind claw, or spur could be seen plainly; on the 

 opposite side of the rick were the birds themselves, seven 

 144 



