318 SNOW BUNTING. 



left grain and seeds, while, in still milder weather 

 they keep to the muir or sheep pastures. In the 

 alpine districts, and similar sub-alpine sheep 

 ranges in England, they are in a like manner 

 found during winter, but towards the south their 

 numbers decrease, and the flocks become smaller 

 and more straggling; and, according to Mr 

 Yarrell, these flocks, still farther decreased, " by 

 separation and other causes, are seen in York- 

 shire, Norfolk, and Suffolk, sometimes on open 

 heaths and warrens, at others in the marshes and 

 fields contiguous to the coast. A few reach the 

 southern counties, and have been seen from 

 Sussex to Devonshire." In Ireland, Mr Thomp- 

 son has mentioned them to us as occurring in 

 similar localities in the mountainous and sub- 

 alpine districts. At this season of the year, as 

 we have already stated, they appear in flocks, 

 often consisting of some hundreds. When dis- 

 turbed, they fly around, making sudden wheels 

 before again alighting, and in their turnings, ex- 

 hibit the dark and light parts of their plumage in 

 a simultaneous manner, almost as distinctly as 

 some of the Sandpipers; but when the flock is 

 travelling, the flight is near the ground, in an 

 undulating manner, and with frequent strokes of 

 the wing. On the ground, they run with facility 

 and quickness, and often squat. They never 

 alight on trees or bushes, during their abode in 

 this country, at least not within our own observa- 

 tion, or that of our friends whom we have con-- 

 suited. 



