12 BKITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



brown, generally distributed over the egg. It is the 

 smallest of the Buntings' eggs found in this country, 

 and the veins are shorter and thicker than those of 

 the Yellow Bunting. Size about -77 by -57 in. 



Time. March, April, May, June, and July. 



Bernards. Kesident, and partially migratory. 

 Notes: song, te, te, tu, ie, diversified by an occasional 

 discordant ruytsli ; alarm note, a sharp twitter. 

 Local and other names : Reed Sparrow, Passerine 

 Bunting, Black Bonnet, Chink, Water Sparrow, 

 Black-headed Bunting, Mountain Sparrow. Sits 

 closely. 



BUNTING, SNOW. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about seven 

 inches ; bill short, conical, and black. Irides hazel. 

 Head and neck white (in some specimens the crown 

 and nape are mottled with black) ; back velvety 

 black ; rump and upper tail- coverts white, some of 

 the feathers being slightly bordered with brownish- 

 white ; wings black on the shoulder or point, white 

 through the middle, and black on outer half and 

 tips ; tail slightly forked, white on the outside and 

 black in the middle ; chin, throat, breast, belly, 

 vent, and under tail-coverts pure white ; legs, toes, 

 and claws black. 



The female is rather smaller, has the white on 

 the head and neck more mottled with black, and 

 her colours generally are not so pure. Very few 

 specimens of the bird have been secured in this 

 country in its breeding plumage. 



Situation and Locality. In crevices and chinks 

 of rock, or amongst loose stones. The bird is said 

 to breed on the high hills and mountains of the 



