THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 385 



In these the plumage is invariably of a very dusky, almost 

 coppery-brown colour. Old birds in pure summer plumage I have 

 obtained only on three occasions. These were individuals which 

 had been delayed on their migration by some accident or other, for 

 the normal spring migration of this high northern species takes 

 place very early in the year, when the birds are still in nearly full 

 winter plumage. There is, however, no European bird which sur- 

 passes in the beauty of its plumage an old male of this species, 

 which displays none but the two colours of the breeding dress, 

 viz. a deep, shiny black and a snowy white. 



The breeding stations of the Snow Bunting are of circumpolar 

 distribution. Captain Feilden found a nest with eggs in 82 33' N. 

 latitude, in the neighbourhood of Knot Harbour, Grinnell Land. 

 The Ptarmigan alone seems to breed still farther north; at least, the 

 same observer found a pair of these birds in latitude 82 46' N., of 

 which he shot the female. Lieutenant Aldrich, however, found 

 traces of this species still farther north, viz. in the snow in latitude 

 83 6' N. (Notes from an Arctic Journal, by H. W. Feilden. 

 Reprinted from the Zoologist, p. 72). 



185. Lapland Bunting [LAPPLANDISCHER AMMER]. 

 EMBERIZA LAPPON1CA, Linn. 1 



Heligolandish: Berg-Sneeling = Mountain Snow Bunting. 



Emberiza lapponica. Naumann, iv. 319. 



Lapland Bunting. Dresser, iv. 253. 



Bruant montain. Temminck, Manuel, i. 322, iii. 339. 



Unlike its congener, the preceding species, this Bunting occurs 

 here only in solitary instances ; from the middle of September until 

 the end of October two to three examples, rarely more, may be 

 occasionally met with during a day. In its character, too, it is 

 altogether unlike the Snow Bunting, having nothing of the boister- 

 ousness and wildness of that species, but being of a gentle and quiet 

 disposition. Indeed, I have frequently for years kept it confined in 

 a cage, and its melodious, if somewhat melancholy, tune has given 

 me much enjoyment during many a summer night spent at my 

 desk over these leaves. The song of the Snow Bunting has exactly 

 the same character ; but the melodious, flute-like notes are fuller, 

 and the bird in confinement will only give utterance to them during 

 the first hours of June and July nights. The Snow Bunting 

 remains, however, so utterly intractable, crying like one possessed 

 when any person approaches its cage, that it is impossible to 



1 Calcarius lapponicus (Linn. ). 

 2B 



