256 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



They find plenty to do in picking up the minute 

 seeds which the winds of last autumn have shaken 

 out of the grass pannicles, and leave me at liberty 

 to pursue my observations at leisure. The prevail- 

 ing shade is tawny, relieved in the males by the 

 white wing-feathers, which entitle them, even in 

 their winter dress, to the name of " snow-flakes." 



There are sixteen in all ; a small flock compared 

 with that into which any of our resident species 

 gather. Three, although following the motions of 

 the rest, seem to keep together. These are about 

 the size and build of our common linnet. Their 

 characteristic is not white, but the dusky hue 

 round the bill, and the dark glowing crimson of 

 the crown and breast, redpoles they manifestly 

 are, the mealy redpoles of the North. 



Each season, probably, the snow-bunting drops 

 a few behind to breed. "A pair was seen by 

 myself," says Colonel Drummond Hay, " evidently 

 nesting on the face of Ben Macdhui, above Loch 

 Avon, on the 21st June." The mealy redpole has 

 not yet been seen in summer, and, indeed, seems 

 only to be an intermittent winter visitor. 



Another bright northern finch, the brambling 

 winters with us in varying numbers, and is sus- 

 pected, although without very distinct proof, of 



