Birds of Britain 



is separated from the black of the head by a white stripe, 

 which, starting behind the eye, runs backwards for a short 

 distance and then turns downwards, to lose itself in the 

 white of the abdomen. The rest of the upper parts are 

 brownish with darker centres to the feathers, while the under 

 parts are white with dark streaks on the flanks. In winter 

 the brighter colours are hidden by long brown margins to 

 the feathers which wear off in spring. The female retains 

 her dull dress throughout the year. 



The hind claw in this species is straight and longer 

 than the toe. Length 6 '2 5 in. ; wing 3-6 in. 



THE SNOW BUNTING 



Plectrophenax nivalis (Linnaeus) 



like the preceding species, the true home of this bird is 

 also in the Far North ; it has, however, a much wider breeding 

 range, and a few pairs nest annually on the mountains of 

 Scotland and in the Shetlands. 



The nest is placed on the ground, hidden in a cleft of 

 the rock or among loose boulders, and, as is characteristic 

 of nests in holes, is very loose in construction. It is made 

 of moss and dry grass, and is warmly lined with feathers. 

 About six eggs, of a very pale blue spotted and zoned 

 round the larger end with purplish red, form the clutch. 



Unlike the Lapland Bunting, which is found in the salt 

 marshes or on the tundras of the North, this species shows 

 a predilection for the rocky coasts or hills covered with 



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