THE SNOW-BUNTING. 127 



Family FRINGILLID&. Subfamily EMBERIZIN&. 



THE SNOW-BUNTING. 



Plectrophenax nivalis, LINN.* 



ACIRCUMPOLAR species, breeding chiefly in the Arctic regions beyond the 

 limit of forest growth ; or at high elevations further south, excepting in 

 the Fseroe Islands and Shetlands where it places its nest little above the sea- 

 level. In winter it migrates southwards to Central Europe, South Russia, 

 Turkestan, North China, Japan, and North America as far south as Georgia. It 

 has been known to visit the Azores, Morocco, Malta ; and is a rare, but regular, 

 winter visitor to Italy. 



To Great Britain the Snow- Bunting is chiefly a winter visitor, generally 

 reaching the eastern coast of England in October, though rarely in September, and 

 commencing its return migration from March to April. Although rare in England 

 and Ireland, this bird is decidedly commoner in Scotland, where a few pairs remain 

 to breed : the first nest being obtained in the Shetlands by Saxby, on July and, 

 1861. In July, 1886, Messrs. Peach and Hinaman found nest and young in 

 Sutherlandshire, and in June, 1888, Mr. John Young discovered a nest with five 

 eggs. I believe it has since been obtained by Mr. W. R. O. Grant. 



The adult male in breeding-plumage has the mantle, scapulars, inner second- 

 aries, terminal half of primaries, four central tail-feathers and greater part of the 

 next pair black; the outer webs edged with white; outer feathers mostly white; 

 centre of lower back and rump black (with white edges to the feathers) but the 

 sides white; remainder of plumage white: beak and feet leaden black; iris deep 

 hazel. The female has all the black parts of the plumage greyer, and with pale 

 edges to the feathers, the head and neck mottled with blackish. After the autumn 

 moult the feathers of the upper surface, breast, and flanks are bordered with dull 

 chestnut, which gradually changes to white during the winter, and the beak 

 becomes orange-ochreous tipped with blackish. The young are greyish, with dark 

 centres to most of the feathers, but the wings and tail resembling the autumn 

 plumage of the adults. 



For this bird the genus Pledrofthanes, having been instituted for the Lapland Bunting, has been aban- 

 doned. 



