514 NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 



visited Iceland in 1837, tbnnd the Snowbird breeding there in June. Ho 

 found their nests pLaced among large stones or in the fissures ot" rocks, com- 

 posed of dry grass lined with hair and feathers. The eggs were from four 

 to si.x in number. The male attends the female during incubation. Mr. 

 Proctor states that he has seen this bird, wlien coming from the nest, rise uj) 

 in the air and sing sweetly, with its wings and tail spread in the manner of 

 the Tree Pipit. Linna^is, in his Tour in La j)land, mentions seeing these birds 

 in that country about the end of Alay, and also in duly. He also mentions 

 that this bird is the only living thing that has been seen two thousand feet 

 above the line of perpetual snow in the Lai)land Alps. This bird also breeds 

 on the Faroe Islands. Mr. Hewitson found its nest in Norwav. It contained 

 young, and was built under some loose stones. Young l)irds have also been 

 noticed early in August among the CJrampians, in Scotland, rendering it prob- 

 able that tiiey breed in that locality, and j)erha|)S in considerable numbers. 

 As the severity of winter increases, they leave the heaths where they have 

 fed upon the seeds of grasses, and descend to the lowlands, frequenting the 

 oat-stubbles, and, when the snow is deep, approaching the coast. Their call- 

 note is pleasing, and is often repeated during their flight, which they make 

 in a very compact body. Before settling on the ground they make sudden 

 wheels, coming almost into collision witli each other, uttering at the same 

 time a peculiar guttural note. They run on the ground with all the ease of 

 Larks, and rarely perch. Temminck states that they are very abundant in 

 winter alono: the sea-coast of Holland. 



Their appe; nice in ^lassachusetts is usually with the first ht^avy falls of 

 snow, in December and January'. They are most abundant in the open 

 places near the sea-coast, and formerly were very numerous in the marshes 

 between Boston and Prookline. A wounded male in full adult plumage was 

 taken by me, in 18i»8, and kept some time in confinement. It would not 

 accustom itself to a cage, and a large box was j)repared in which it could 

 run more at large. It fed readily on grain and cmcked corn, delighted to 

 bathe itself severa'. times in the day, but would not be reconciled to my near 

 presence. On my approach it would rush about its prison, uttering its 

 peculiar call-notes, blending with them a loud guttural cry of alarm. As the 

 spring approached, it warbled occasionally a few nott^s, but uttered from time 

 to time such mournful cries, as if bewailing its captivity, that it would have 

 been relea.sed, had its crippled conditicni permitted it to take care of itself 

 It was given in charge of a friend, but did not live through the lieat of the 

 ensuing summer. 



It is stated that a nest of this bird \vas found among the White Moun- 

 tains by Mr. Kirk Boott, of Boston, in the summer «»f 1S;U. It contained 

 young l)irds. This, if the identification was correct, was probably an acci- 

 dental occurrence. None have been noticed there since, nor have I ever been 

 al/le to find any of the ])ermanent residents among tlie mountains that have 

 met with these birds in that region, except in winter. 



