PERCHING BIRDS. 179 



burying-place, " was a third pile of stones, cover- 

 ing the body of a child, which was coiled up. A 

 snow bunting had found its way through the loose 

 stones which composed this little tomb, arid its 

 now forsaken, neatly built nest, was found placed 

 on the bosom of the child. As the snow bunting 

 has all the domestic virtues of our English red- 

 breast, it has always been considered by us as the 

 robin of these dreary wilds, and its lively chirp 

 and fearless confidence have rendered it respected 

 by the most hungry sportsman. I could not, on 

 this occasion, view its little nest, placed thus on 

 the breast of infancy, without wishing that I 

 possessed the power of poetically expressing the 

 feelings it excited." 



A number of the young birds of the year, bred in 

 high northern latitudes, annually visit our islands. 

 They are seen in the Hebrides, and also in Scot- 

 land, in little flocks, evidently family groups ; they 

 move in a compact body, and in whirling roving 

 flights, immediately before or soon after a fall of 

 snow. It is conjectured that the snow-flake pro- 

 bably breeds on the higher Grampians. It is 

 occasionally seen in large flocks along the marshes 

 of the coast. 



