a. 1 7 



THE SNOW BUNTING. 



Plectrophanes nivalis. MEYER. 

 PLATE XVIII. 



Emberiza nivalis, Linnceus. Plectrophanes mvalis of 



Moderns Emberiza glacialis, nivalis, montana, in 



winter plumage. Snow Bunting, Mountain and Tawny- 

 Bunting, of modern British authors, for its various 

 states of plumage. 



IT is probable that a few scattered pairs of this 

 beautifully marked bird breed on some of the 

 higher mountain ranges of Scotland ; at the same 

 time these instances are certainly so rare and 

 fimited, that we can only look upon it as a winter 

 visiter among our birds. They appear in the 

 south of Scotland soon after the month of .Octo- 

 ber, and are common in large flocks in all the 

 sub-alpine districts, descending to the borders of 

 cultivation as the winter advances, and in very 

 severe times retiring even to the lowlands, the 

 sea coasts, and the courses of the rivers. In both 

 the latter localities, we have repeatedly seen 

 them,, seeking their sustenance among the rejec- 

 tamenta left by the tide, or picking up whatever 

 could be found among the gravel by the river 

 sides. In less severe weather, they frequent the 

 stubbles, fallows, and cultivated fields, on the 

 borders of the muirland districts, and feed on the 



