152 OUTDOOR LIFE IN ENGLAND 



authority praises the song of this bird, and states 

 that, like the nightingale, it sings during the night. 

 This is altogether wrong, for the bird has no song 

 to speak of, and what it possesses is by no means 

 remarkable for its melodious qualities, nor does 

 it sing during the night. Altogether, I am inclined 

 to think that some ornithologists are not very 

 clear in their ideas respecting this bird, and yet 

 it is quite common enough to afford plenty of 

 opportunity to those who care to observe it for 

 acquiring information as to its peculiarities. All 

 the buntings build their nests either on or close' 

 to the ground. 



The snow bunting I have never seen alive ; 

 I was recently shown a preserved specimen which 

 had been shot in my own neighbourhood some 

 years ago ; I should, however, imagine that there 

 are but few of our counties in which it has not 

 at some time or other been observed. It rarely 

 makes its appearance save in exceptionally severe 

 winters. It is a migratory bird, though Colonel 

 Irby states that a few pairs breed on the mountains 

 in the North of Scotland. I have made mention 

 of this bird very much on account of the peculiarity 

 of its plumage. The majority of birds which 

 change from their ordinary plumage to white, 

 such as the ptarmigan, etc., do so in the winter. 

 In Colonel Irby's description he states that the 

 plumage of the snow bunting varies as follows : 

 In summer the head, neck, and under surface 

 white ; above black ; wing-coverts white ; bill 



