OF NEW ENGLAND. 



187 



from Mt. Washington, the highest peak in New England, and 

 I saw none on walking up Mount Lafayette, another prominent 

 peak, in the early part of September, though it was very cold 

 at the summit, and the true Snow-birds (Junco hyemalis) were 

 very abundant at comparatively great altitudes, where the veg- 

 etation was stunted. Audubon speaks, however, of a nest found 

 among the White Mountains, in July, 1831, and seen by Wm. 

 M. Boott, Esq., of Boston. It is probable that the Snow Bunt- 

 ings normally belong to the United States as winter- visitors 

 only, and as such occur so far to the southward as Kentucky, 

 if not still further. They are not so shy as one might reason- 

 ably suppose them to be from their habits in summer, but near 

 Boston frequent the " Back Bay lands," the roads, and road- 

 sides. They often obtain seeds from the weeds in fields and 

 ploughed lands, but they are most common on and near the 

 sea-shore, where they feed much upon small shell-fish. Wilson 

 says : u In passing down the Seneca river towards lake 

 Ontario, late in the month of October, I was surprised by the 

 appearance of a large flock of these birds feeding on the sur- 

 face of the water, supported on the tops of a growth of weeds 

 that rose from the bottom, growing so close together that our 

 boat could with great difficulty make its way through them. 

 They were running about with great activity ; and those I shot 

 and examined were filled, not only with the seeds of this plant, 

 but with a minute kind of shell fish that adheres to the leaves. 

 In these * * * aquatic excursions they are doubtless greatly 

 assisted by the length of their hind heel and claws. I also 

 observed a few on Table rock, above the falls of Niagara, 

 seemingly in search of the same kind of food." Mr. Mayuard 

 speaks of thousands feeding on the seeds of beach-grass, at 

 the Ipswich Sand-hills. 58 The Snow Buntings run with ease 

 and rapidity, like the larks, and fly with considerable swift- 

 ness, when in flocks often whirling like a flurry of snow before 

 alighting on the ground. They are the most picturesque of 

 our winter-birds, and often enliven an otherwise dreary scene, 



" The Naturalist's Guide," p. 112. 



