66 THE SNOW-BUNTING. 



is certain, at all events, that he discovered the New World 

 before Christopher Columbus. 



During the severe cold of the winter of 1867-8, we saw our 

 knight a very rare circumstance haunt the vicinity of our 

 houses, though he prefers the green shade of the forests, and 

 especially of the forests of pine and fir. He who has seen 

 him pecking at the bark and leaves of these trees, while 

 the ground was covered with snow, and during a frost of 

 10 below zero (C.), will feel no astonishment at meeting him 

 upon the snowy summits of the Alps. 



Yet this pet bird of ours, this Lilliputian warbler, does not 

 weigh more, with all his feathers, than a quarter of an ounce, 

 or the two thousandth part of an eagle. Away with the hunter 

 who would attempt such tiny game ! A bird so small that he 

 glides through the meshes of a net, so delicate, that if you 

 would not irreparably injure your " specimen," you must shoot 

 him with a few grains of finest shot, a bird of such frail 

 appearance, withstanding all climates, and distributed over 

 the entire surface of the globe, here is a subject worthy 

 the meditation of man, who pretends to be the "lord of 

 creation ! " 



THE SNOW-BUNTING (Emberiza plectrophanes nivalis). 



This is the snow-lark-bunting of Macgillivray, and a species 

 of the genus Plectrophanes. In Scotland, he is frequently 

 called the Snow-flake, and, in other parts of Great Britain, 

 the Snow or Oat-fowl. His weight does not exceed an ounce 

 and a half. His bill and legs are black ; his forehead and 



